The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, January 24. The charges against Obiano involve alleged money laundering amounting to N4,008,573,350.
The EFCC's lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, along with eight other lawyers, will handle the trial. Obiano is facing nine counts, including allegations of indirectly transferring funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into various accounts. The charges specify instances where substantial sums were moved and later changed into dollars before being returned to Obiano in cash.
Some of the charges include:
1. Indirectly transferring N156,800.00 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account to an unrelated business entity.
2. Indirectly transferring N261,268,585.00 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account to another unrelated business entity.
These transactions are alleged to have taken place during Obiano's tenure as the executive governor of Anambra State between March 2014 and March 2022.
Willie Obiano was arrested on March 17, 2022, at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he was preparing to board a flight to the United States. The arrest came hours after he left office, losing his immunity from arrest and prosecution. The EFCC had been monitoring Obiano over allegations of misappropriation of public funds, including the withdrawal of N37 billion in cash from security votes and the diversion of funds for political activities in the state.
The arraignment is part of the EFCC's commitment to reviewing high-profile cases, especially those involving former governors and ministers.
