Details Of Court Charges Against Anambra Ex-Gov, Willie Obiano

Former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over nine counts related to money laundering, fund diversion and corruption.

Naija News reported earlier that at the court sitting today, the lead judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, directed that the passports and travel documents owned by Obiano be held by both the court and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Furthermore, the court prohibited the former governor from travelling outside the jurisdiction without obtaining prior permission from the court.

According to a statement released by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the nine counts of charges against Obiano related to money laundering, fund diversion, theft, and corruption amounting to N4 billion.

It is alleged that he transferred the mentioned amount from security votes to different accounts and, on various occasions, converted the funds into dollars and received them in cash.

Details of the count one of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 and March 2022, sometime between the 16th February, 2018 and 9th March, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of N223,371,000 (Two hundred and twenty-three million, three hundred and seventy one thousand naira only) 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 (Six hundred thousand United States dollars) and collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said Uzuegbuna Okagbue and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.”

Details of the count four of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 13th February 2018 to 2nd March 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of ₦1, 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 Account No. 5600251033, belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government) which 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 offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2912 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

However, Obiano pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him, and the matter was adjourned to March 4–7, 2024, for trial, Naija News reports.