EFCC Set to Arraign Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, for Alleged Fraud”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded its investigations and is set to arraign former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, for alleged fraud.

Obiano was arrested at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America. EFCC announced that Obiano had been on their watch list for some time over corruption allegations.

Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote, which was withdrawn in cash.

Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state. A charge filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, showed that the EFCC would be prosecuting the former governor on nine-count charges bordering on illegal withdrawal of security vote and money laundering.

The court documents accuse Obiano of unlawfully moving N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts, through which it was converted into dollars and returned to him in cash. Some of the charges read:

“While 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, you 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 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), which 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.”

Summarised from Sahara Reporters