EFCC to Arraign Ex-Gov Obiano Today over Alleged N4bn Fraud

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign the immediate-past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano,  before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja today (Wednesday) over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350.

The former Anambra State chief executive will be arraigned on nine-count charges. Obiano was believed to have been taken into custody at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, declared last week that he would review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former governors and ministers.

A source at the EFCC said Obiano moved his security votes into different accounts using his former principal private secretary.

“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 source said.

EFCC’s lead counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor

Some of the charges against Obiano include: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875.

“(This account) is domiciled in Fidelity Bank PLC into the Fidelity Bank  Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated/unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State.

“ 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,” one of the charges read.

It added: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875.

“(This is) domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated/unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State.

“ 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, spokesman of the EFCC,  Dele Oyewale, confirmed that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday. “Yes. He will be arraigned tomorrow (Wednesday)”, he said.