The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, has charged Anambra State’s immediate former Governor, Willie Obiano, with nine counts of money laundering.
Obiano who was brought to trial on Wednesday, by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
He was later released on the terms of an administrative bail given by the anti-graft agency.
The terms of the restrictions included the seizure of his international passport, despite being cautioned not to leave the country without the court’s approval.
Furthermore, the court instructed the EFCC to provide it with information on individuals who stood as his sureties.
The case has been postponed until March 4 for the start of his trial.
It should be noted that the former governor was detained at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos on March 17, 2022, while about to catch a trip to Houston, United States of America.
The arrest occurred a few hours after he left office as governor.
Some of the charges against him read as follows:
“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 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple 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, 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.
“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 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, 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 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.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
