ANAMBRA State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has visited his predecessor, Willie Obiano.
Obiano was arraigned on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N4,008,573,350 theft.
The anti-graft agency arraigned him on nine counts bordering on “stealing and corruption,” before Justice Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between the 16th February, 2018 and 9th March, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer / Deputy Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand Naira (N223,371,000) only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No 5030050875 domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank No 5540007709 (a non-financial institution) which was converted to the equivalent of Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($600,000.00) and collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said Uzuegbuna Okagbue 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.”
Count four of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 13th February 2018 to 2nd March 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Six Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira (N1, 206, 760,310) only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600251033 belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures (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”.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
Justice Ekwo thereafter adopted the the administrative bail granted to the former governor by the EFCC,
He also ordered that the defendant’s passport and travel documents be kept in the custody of the court and that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified of the arrangements.
Additionally, Justice Ekwo ordered the defendant not to travel outside the jurisdiction without the permission of the court and adjourned the matter to 4, 5,6 & 7, March 2024 for trial.
Meanwhile, Soludo, who visited Obiano in his hotel in Abuja on Thursday, said he had a very useful discussion with the former governor but did not disclose details of the discussion.
The governor, who disclosed the visit on his verified Facebook page, said he was accompanied by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sly Ezeokenwa.
He said, “Today, and in the company of the APGA National Chairman, Ezeokenwa Sly Jr, I paid a solidarity visit to my respected predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, in Abuja.
“The two-hour chat was valuable time well spent. By His grace, this one too shall pass.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media