Court grants ex-governor Obiano bail after arraignment for N4bn fraud

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, after his arraignment for alleged money laundering to the tune of N4 billion.

Obiano was arraigned on nine-count charge before Justice Inyang Ekwo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

Justice Ekwo, who ordered that Obiano should be restricted to the court jurisdiction, directed the EFCC to deposit the former governor’s travel documents with the court registrar.

The judge further ordered the registrar to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service of the development.

Justice Ekwo, therefore, adjourned the case till March 4,5,6, and 7 for continuation of trial.

The Star had reported that Obiano was accused by the EFCC of transferring N4,008,573,350 from Anambra State Government Security Vote Accounts into different private accounts.

Some of the charges against Obiano are: “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.”

The Star