Alleged 4bn fraud: EFCC to arrest former Anambra gov Obiano on Wednesday

In the event of a last-minute change of plans, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is scheduled to arraign Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, on Wednesday, January 23, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, regarding allegations of N4,008,573,350 in alleged money laundering.

The former governor will be charged with nine counts, according to a source who spoke on Tuesday.

According to reports, Obiano transferred N4,008, 573, 350 from security votes into other accounts. The money was converted into dollars at different points and given back to Obiano in cash, the individual said.

In the former governor’s trial, eight additional attorneys will be led by Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, the chief attorney for the EFCC.
Some of the charges include: “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.”

Remember that on March 17, 2022, while he was getting about to board a flight to Houston, Texas, the former governor was initially taken into custody at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.

Hours after he resigned as governor and thereby lost his protection from arrest and prosecution, the arrest occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Prior to his final arrest due to accusations of corruption, he had been placed on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time.

“Obiano was taken into custody due to accusations of embezzlement of public monies, involving the cash withdrawal of N37 billion from the security vote and N5 billion from Sure-P. According to the EFCC at the time, some of the money was also purportedly used to bankroll political activities within the state.