The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦4,008,573,350. Obiano will be charged with nine counts of money laundering.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development, stating that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday.
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. He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before being arrested over corruption allegations.
Some of the charges against Obiano include:
- Transferring N156,800.00 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into an account belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited, an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government
- Transferring N261,268,585 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into an account belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link, an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government.
These funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated to the security affairs of Anambra State, and Obiano reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of his unlawful act
