From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was, yesterday, docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count money laundering charge to the tune of N4, N4,008,573,350 before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
However, Oniano, who was arraigned amid tight security, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
After his plea was taken, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, said in view of the ‘not guilty’ plea, he had 14 witnesses and all of them were within jurisdiction and some will tender documentary evidence against the ex-governor.
He also asked that the defendant be remanded in custody pending the hearing of the case. But, Onyechi Ikpeazu, counsel for the defendant, told the court he had an application for bail. Tahir said he was served with the governor’s application for bail, but he needed time to go through it to reply. Tahir admitted that the governor was granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
Justice Ekwo then asked him the terms of the administrative bail, to which Tahir said included sureties who are directors in the Federal Civil Service and the deposit of the governors’ international passport. Ekwo said the terms of bail granted by EFCC was adopted by the court. He also directed the EFCC to transfer the international passport of the governor to the court registry. He said the defendant shall not travel out of jurisdiction of the court without prior notice and leave of this court.
“Case adjourned to March 4, 5, 6 and 7 for trial,” the judge ruled while granting the governor bail.
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. Besides, Justice Ekwo directed the EFCC to forward details of those who stood as his surety to the court. 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 February 7, 2018 to February 18, 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 Plc 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 August 9, 2017 to March 4, 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.”