Strong indications suggest that the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, is presently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its headquarters in Abuja. This move by the anti-graft agency is believed to be in preparation for Obiano’s arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 24.
Obiano is set to face trial on alleged corruption charges amounting to over N4 billion brought against him by the Federal Government through the EFCC. The prosecution of the former governor is scheduled to be led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Slyvanus Tahir.
While confirming the development, EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, provided limited information. A registrar from the court where Obiano is expected to be arraigned acknowledged sighting the charges but was unable to specify the arraignment date.
Some of the charges against Obiano include allegations of indirectly transferring funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into accounts of entities unrelated to the state’s security affairs. These transactions are said to have occurred between 2018 and 2019. The charges outline that Obiano ought to have reasonably known that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, constituting offenses under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Obiano had previously been arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, while preparing to board a flight to Houston, USA. As of the latest update, a team of senior lawyers has been assembled by Obiano’s family and friends to mount a defense against the charges and secure his bail after the arraignment.