Willie Obiano, the most recent governor of Anambra state, has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with money laundering. On Wednesday, the former governor appeared before Inyang Ekwo, a federal high court judge in Abuja.
In response to the anti-graft agency’s nine-count allegation against him, Obiano entered a not-guilty plea. The EFCC’s Sylvanus Tahir asked the court to hold the defendant in custody till the trial began upon arraignment. However, Obiano’s attorney, Onyinyechi Ikpeazu, requested that the court give his client bail.
In her decision on the applications, Ekwo decided that the defendant should be released on the administrative terms that the EFCC had previously set. He added that the defendant’s international passport should be transmitted to the court within 10 days. The judge also directed the court registrar to inform the immigration service about the passport when it is transferred.
The case was subsequently adjourned to March 4 for the commencement of trial.
In September 2021, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra had asked the anti-graft agency to probe the state’s finances to unearth “monumental deception.” Basil Ejidike, Anambra APC chairman, had alleged that Obiano was “fraudulently” using the state’s security vote.
Comments