From Lateef Taiwo
The immediate past Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano who was docked before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday, was granted bail on a nine count money laundering charge.
Obiano was arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged diverted funds to the tune of N4bn.
At today’s proceedings, the EFCC prosecutor, Sylvannus prayed court to invite the defendant to take his plea. He later applied to amend contradictions in count 7 which the Judge granted.
While the charge was read to Obiano, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After pleading not guilty, Tahir asked for trial date to enable them call 15 witnesses lined up for his prosecution. He also told the court that the agency has documentary evidence to nail the former governor.
He proceeded to request the defendant be remanded in custody till the commencement of trial.
Opening his own argument, the defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu pleaded for bail, reminding the court that his client was already enjoying an administrative bail.
Giving his verdicts, the presiding Judge granted the counsel’s request, ordering the transfer of the defendants to the court and notify the registrar.
He also ordered that the the Nigerian Immigration Service to be notified that Obiano’s International Passport is in the court’s custody.
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.
Also the court directed the EFCC to forward to it, details of those that stood as his surety.
Justice Ekwo thereafter ordered quick trial and adjourned the matter to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th for trial.
Recall that the former governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
The arrest took place few hours after he left office as governor.
Some of the charges against him, 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.”
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