EFCC charges ex-governor, Obiano with alleged stealing N4 billion from Anambra security vote

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano with money laundering offences involving stealing of over N4 billion from the state’s security vote account.

Obiano, however, denied the charges contained in nine counts during his arraignment before the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Obiano was charged on nine counts of money laundering, including bypassing of financial institution in several unlawful cash transactions involving money allegedly stolen from the state’s account. The amount of cash involved in the transactions were said to be beyond legally permitted cash limits.

The nine count charges also involve spending of funds allegedly stolen from the state’s security vote account for other purposes.

For instance, the EFCC alleged in Count 1 that, from 16 February 2018 to 9 March 2018, an aggregate sum of N223,371,000 was paid from the security vote account into the account of Connought International Services Limited.

Count 2 alleged that from 30 October 2018 to 13 November 2018, a total sum of N95million was paid from the security vote account into the bank account of S.Y. Panda Enterprises.

In Count 3, EFCC alleged from 11 April 2017 to 21June 2019, a total of N416,000,000 was diverted from security vote account into the account of Zirga Zirga Trading Company Limited.

In Count 4, the anti-corruption agency alleged that from 13 February 2018 to 2 March 2022, a total of N1,206,760,310 was paid into thr account of Moment of Peace Ventures.

The commission similarly alleged in Count 5 that from 5 April 2018 to 28 May 2019, an aggregate sum of N860,716,200 was paid into the account of Youdooh Ventures.

Also in Count 6, EFCC alleged that from 28 January 2020 to 15 January 2021, a total sum of N659,112,900 was paid to Nazdal Ventures.

The commission also alleged in Count 7 that from 7 February 2018 to 18 February 2019, C.I Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited received a total sum of N156,800,000.

In Count 8, the commission alleged that from 9 August 2017 to 4 March 2020 Easy Diamond integrated Link received a toyal of N261,268,585 from the state’s security vote account.

In Count 9, the commission alleged that from 16 October 2017 to 3 January 2018, a total sum of N127,544,355 was paid from the security vote account of Anambara State Government into the account of Xpress Consult Nig. Limited.

The judge, Justice Ekwo, granted him bail, ordering him not to leave the country unless with express permission of the court throughout the period of his trial.

The judge fixed 4 March for commencement of trial.

Recall, hours after Mr Obiano handed over as Anambra State Governor on 17 March 2022, EFCC had arrested him at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States.

He was released on bail days after interrogations in EFCC custody.