The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Obiano faces charges of alleged money laundering involving a staggering sum of N4,008,573,350.
The former governor is expected to face nine counts of money laundering, as revealed by an anonymous source close to the matter. The charges are linked to the purported movement of N4,008,573,350 from security votes into various accounts.
The funds allegedly underwent currency conversion into dollars and were subsequently returned to Obiano in cash.
This development follows the recent commitment by EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to revisit dormant high-profile cases, particularly those involving former governors and ministers. The EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, along with eight other lawyers, will spearhead the trial.
Among the charges Obiano faces are allegations that he indirectly transferred funds from Anambra State Government’s Security Vote Account into various accounts unrelated to the state’s security affairs. These transactions, carried out between 2018 and 2019, form the basis of the charges under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
In a similar vein, another charge asserts that Obiano, between 2017 and 2020, indirectly transferred substantial funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into an account belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link, an entity with no apparent business ties to the state government.
Obiano’s arrest in March 2022 at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos marked a significant development in the EFCC’s efforts to address allegations of misappropriation of public funds. The former governor was apprehended as he prepared to board a flight to the United States. His loss of immunity after leaving office paved the way for the EFCC to act on longstanding concerns and accusations of corruption.
When approached for comment, EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that Obiano would be arraigned on January 24. The charges against Obiano highlight the persistent battle against corruption in Nigeria, emphasizing the EFCC’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for financial misconduct and malfeasance.