The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed that the passports and travel documents of the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, be held in the custody of both the court and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
This order restricts Obiano from traveling outside the country’s jurisdiction without the court’s permission.
According to a statement from the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, Obiano was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on nine counts related to money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing, and corruption amounting to N4 billion.
The charges against Obiano include allegations of transferring large sums of money from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into various accounts, converting the money into dollars, and receiving the funds in cash.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 and March 2022 did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution… 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.”
Another charge accuses Obiano of indirectly transferring over N1 billion from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into an account belonging to an entity unrelated to the state government’s security affairs.
Despite the charges, Obiano pleaded not guilty to all counts. The trial has been adjourned to March 4–7, 2024, for further proceedings.
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