From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was on Wednesday docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on a nine-count money laundering charge to the tune of N4,008,573,350.
The ex-governor, who was arraigned amid tight security, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who conducted proceedings, allowed the former governor to go home based on the terms of an administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC.
Terms of the conditions included the seizure of his international passport, even as he was warned not to travel outside the country without the permission of the court.
Justice Ekwo directed the EFCC to forward details of those who stood as his surety to the court.
The case has been adjourned till March 4 for the commencement of his trial.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the ex-governor allegedly moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts.
It added that the money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.
Some of the charges read:
“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.”
