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- The EFCC has reopened its case against the former governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano
- Obiano will appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja division and defend the alleged 4 billion fraud case slammed against him by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, January 24
- The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development to newsmen on Tuesday, January 23
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that it will arraign the former governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24.
The commission disclosed that Obiano will appear before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja division, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4 billion.
The Punch reported on Tuesday, January 22 that the ex-governor, a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) will be arraigned on nine count charges.
This comes a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, vowed to revisit all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former governors and ministers.
Source give details on Obiano’s fraud case
An impeccable source revealed:
“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.”
EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor.
Confirming the development, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, noted that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday, January 24.
“Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale said.
What you need to know about Obiano’s case
Meanwhile, the embattled former governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
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The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.
He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested 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for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash.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,” EFCC had noted at the time.
Obiano dumps APGA for APC? Fact emerges
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Willie Obiano had denied the report that he was planning to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The chairman of the APC in Anambra state, Basil Ejidike, earlier said that the former governor would be joining the party soon.
But the spokesperson to the former governor, Tony Nezianya, in a statement on Tuesday, November 14, said that the dedication and loyalty of Obiano to APGA was never in doubt.
EFCC chairman warns investigators taking bribes
In another report, EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede has complained bitterly over the craze for gratification, and quest for bribes by some of the commission’s investigators.
He however cautioned the perpetrators to discontinue such immoral acts or face sanctions.
Olukoyede made this assertion on Thursday, January 18, in his New Year address to staff members of the anti-graft agency at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Source: Legit.ng
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