The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today (Wednesday) arraign a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, for alleged N4,008,573,350 theft.
But a former media aide of the ex-governor, who identified himself simply as Tony, said Obiano would defend himself, asking anyone who had any evidence against the ex-governor to come forward.
gathered that the anti-graft agency would arraign Obiano on nine counts, bordering on “stealing and corruption”, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former governors and ministers.
A source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday, said, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008, 573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money, at various times, was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.”
The EFCC’s lead counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor.
In a copy of the charge sheet sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC alleged that between February 7 and 18, 2018, Obiano “indirectly transferred, through Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government).”
The EFCC alleged that “funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated/unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (stealing and corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development while noting that Obiano would be arraigned on Wednesday (today).
“Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale said.
Efforts to get the reactions of Obiano’s former Deputy Press Secretary, Emeka Ozumba, proved abortive as calls and messages to his telephone line were not responded to.
However, his ex-aide, Tony, said, “I have yet to see the full details of the development. I will react as soon as I get clearance to do so.
“But I will say Obiano has served his term and with all due respect, he left his mark, it is left for posterity to judge him. If anyone has any case against him, they should come with their concrete evidence and the former governor has the right under the law to defend himself.”
reported that the EFCC on March 17, 2022, arrested Obiano at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, while he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
The arrest took place around 8.30 pm, hours after Obiano left office as governor.
“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N37bn security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” the EFCC said at the time.
