24th January, 2024
…Willie Obiano to continue to enjoy administrative bail granted him by EFCC
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State arraigned at Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday over alleged N4 billion fraud.
EFCC arraigned 68-year-old Obiano on nine counts of alleged N4bn fraud he allegedly committed when he was governor of Anambra State between March 2014 and March 2022 before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja.
The former Anambra Governor pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned in court of Wednesday.
Following the plea, the Counsel for the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, had asked the court to remand him in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
But the Judge said Obiano should continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC when he was first arrested soon after leaving office.
The terms of the administrative bail include the provision of two sureties who are directors in civil service and who owned landed properties in Abuja.
Justice Ekwo also added that Obiano must not leave the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and he must submit his travel documents to the court.
The court also stated that the immigration be alerted that all travel documents are with the court.
The Court subsequently adjourned the case till March 4,5,6 and 7 for continuation of trial.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor.
Willie Obiano 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.
The EFCC had arrested Obiano hours after he handed over power as Anambra Governor over alleged misappropriation of public funds.
See some of the charges filed against him below:
Some of the charges against Obiano 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.”
