N4bn Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Anambra Gov Obiano In court Today Over Money Laundering Charges

Immediate past Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano, will be arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, 24 January by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This follows recent decision of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukayode, to revisit apparently abandoned high-profile cases in line with his resolve to leave no stone unturned in the fight against financial crimes in the country.

Obiano’s charges are related to alleged N4 billion money laundering activities.

Prime Business gathered that some of the charges against Obiano include allegations of using third party to transfer funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into unrelated accounts.

The funds were allegedly later found to have been used for other purposes that are not related to security affairs of Anambra State, thereby breaching certain provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

Recall that the former Anambra governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, some hours after the inauguration of his successor Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Allegations of embezzlement of public funds, including N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote, were the basis for the arrest.

Prior to that he was said to have been on EFCC’s watchlist over corruption allegations.

Obiano was later released on bail but his travel documents including international passport seized. However, an exparte order made by Federal High Court, Awka division granted Obiano leave to travel abroad to the United States of America to attend to his medical appointment. This forced EFCC to release Obiano’s passport.