The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 arraigned Willie Obiano, who was Peter Obi’s direct successor as governor of Anambra State, before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
He was arraigned on nine counts of charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4billion.
The first count of the charge states: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, during your tenure as the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria from March 2014 to March 2022, at some point between February 16 and March 9, 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make cash transactions through a non-financial institution by giving instructions to one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer / Deputy Chief of Staff, to transfer the total amount of Only N223,371,000 (two hundred and twenty-three million, three hundred and seventy-one thousand Naira) from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No. 5030050875, domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc, into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank No. 5540007709 (a non-financial institution), which was converted to the equivalent of $600,000.00 (six hundred thousand US dollars) and obtained in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and given to you in cash by the aforementioned Uzuegbuna Okagbue. As a result, you committed an offence against Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012, which is punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, while serving as the Executive Governor of the State of Anambra, Nigeria, between March 2014 and March 2022, sometime between February 13th, 2018 and March 2nd, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred the sum of N1, 206, 760,310 billion (one billion, two hundred and six million, seven hundred and sixty thousand, three hundred and ten naira) only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No. 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc You should have reasonably suspected that the funds in question were part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, specifically theft and corruption, as they were disbursed for purposes unrelated to the security affairs of the state. As a result, you committed an offence that was punishable under Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2912 and against Account No. 5600251033, which belonged to Moment of Peace Ventures (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government). When the accusations were read to him, he entered a not guilty plea to each one.
Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, the prosecution’s attorney, requested a trial date in light of the defendant’s plea and prayed for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional facility until the trial date. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the defendant’s attorney, called the court’s attention to a bail application that was on file.
Following his verdict, Justice Ekwo stated that the court will follow the terms of the administrative bail that had been granted to the defendant by the EFCC and ordered the prosecution to submit the specifics of that bail.
Additionally, he mandated that the Nigeria Immigration Service be informed of the preparations and that the defendant’s passport and travel documents be retained in the court’s possession.
In addition, Justice Ekwo delayed the case until March 4, 5, 6, and 7 of 2024 for trial and commanded the defendant to refrain from leaving the court’s jurisdiction without authorization.
