EFCC Moves Ex-Anambra Governor Obiano to Abuja, Queries Him on Alleged N42bn Fraud

By Derrick Bangura

Willie Obiano, the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, has been transported to Abuja for additional interrogation on fraud accusations, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Obiano was taken to Abuja on Friday morning after being detained by the EFCC on Thursday night at the Lagos airport while attempting to catch a flight to the United States, only hours after being handed over to the new governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo.

Obiano is being interrogated by the EFCC for alleged misuse of N37 billion in security vote and N5 billion in Sure-P monies, totaling N42 billion, according to the EFCC.
It alleged that the former governor also used part of the N42 billion to fund political activities in the state.
“Willie Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N37billion security vote, which was withdrawn in cash,” said the EFCC.

Sources said the EFCC is also in possession of other petitions alleging corruption against Obiano.

One of such petitions, a source said, alleged massive corruption in the management of the N17bn Paris Club refund to the state.

“There are also petitions alleging inflated projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost was believed to be exaggerated. The EFCC has been doing its investigations all this while and are convinced that Obiano has a case to answer,” adds the source.

In September 2021, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra had asked the anti-graft agency to probe the finances of the state in order to unearth “monumental deception”.

Anambra APC chairman, Basil Ejidike, had alleged that Obiano was “fraudulently” using the state’s security vote.
Obiano had been on the watch list of the EFCC following the commission’s letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service on November 15, 2021, requesting immigration to place Obiano on a watch list and inform it anytime he was travelling out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Friday explained why it arrested the immediate past Governor of Anambra State.

Speaking with BBC Pidgin, the spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwajaren said: “Obiano had been on our watch list for some time now. He had immunity as a governor and that was why we could not arrest him before now.
“Today he lost his immunity and was traveling out of the country before we finally arrested him. Obiano was arrested and he is still in our custody.”

The EFCC official promised to provide the anti-graft agency’s next line of action in the coming days.