The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday,
January 24, 2024 arraigned a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in
Abuja.
He was arraigned on nine- count charges bordering on money
laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of
N4billion.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the
Executive Governor of Anambra State of
Nigeria between March 2014 - March 2022, sometime between the 16th February,
2018 and 9th March, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable
Court, did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution by
instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer / Deputy
Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of N223,371,000 (Two Hundred and
Twenty Three Million, Three Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Naira) only from
the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No 5030050875 domiciled at
Fidelity Bank Plc into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank
No 5540007709 ( a non-financial institution) which was converted to the
equivalent of $600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and
collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said
Uzuegbuna Okagbue and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of
the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and
punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.
Count four of the charge reads:
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi
Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between
March 2014 - March 2022, sometime between 13th February 2018 to 2nd March 2022,
in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly transferred
through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of
N1, 206, 760,310 Billion (One Billion, Two Hundred and Six Million, Seven
Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira) only from
the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in
Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600251033 belonging
to Moment of Peace Ventures (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 offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2912 and punishable under
Section 15 (3) of the same Act".
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read
to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir,
SAN, asked for a trial date while praying the court for the remand of the
defendant in a Correctional Centre pending the date of the trial. Counsel to
the defendant, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, drew the attention of the court to a
bail application before the court.
While ruling, Justice Ekwo thereafter asked the
prosecution to provide the particulars of the administrative bail granted the
defendant by the EFCC, stating that the court will adopt the terms of the
bail.
He also ordered that the defendant’s passport and traveling
documents be kept in the custody of the court and the Nigeria Immigration
Service be notified of the arrangements.
Additionally, Justice Ekwo ordered the defendant not to travel outside jurisdiction without the permission of the court and adjourned the matter to March 4, 5,6 & 7, 2024 for trial.
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