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

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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.

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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arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N37billion security vote, which was withdrawn in cash,” said the EFCC.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.

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“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.

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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.

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Crime

Police Foil Cult Initiation in Anambra, Arrest Six Suspects

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The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a cult initiation ceremony in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson for the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.

According to Ikenga, the operation was carried out by police operatives around 9:30am on June 15, leading to the arrest of six suspects at the scene.

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Recovered during the raid were one Jojef pump action gun, two cartridges, and a golden-coloured Lexus SUV with registration number ATN 202 AE. Other items found include two cutlasses, two scissors, a cap bearing the inscription of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

“They are currently undergoing police interrogation to get more insight into their modus operandi, after which the case will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations,” Ikenga stated.

The police spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to fighting cultism and other related crimes across the state.

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Crime

Court remands 2 over alleged attempted murder

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Court discharges man accused of burning father’s house in Abuja

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, remanded two persons, Olaitan Fasasi and Kehinde Tobiloba in a correctional facility over alleged attempted murder.

Fasasi, 40, and Tobiloba, 26, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and membership of a secret society.

The Magistrate, Mr L.A Owolabi, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

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Owolabi directed the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

He thereafter adjourned the case until May 31 for mention.

The Prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at about 5.02p.m on Feb. 15, at Mushin, Lagos.

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She said that Fasasi, Tobiloba and others now at large, attempted to commit murder by shooting at a resident, Alfred Ademola.

“They armed themselves with a locally made gun. They belong to Eiye Confraternity, a group proscribed by law,”, she said.

Ikhayere said that the offences contravened Sections 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2012.

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He said that the actions of the defendants also contravened Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the unlawful societies and Cultism Law of Lagos State Law.

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Crime

Man jailed 3 months for stealing mobile phone

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An Area Court in Jos, on Tuesday, sentenced one Jeptha John, to three months imprisonment for stealing a Redmi mobile phone valued at N165, 000.

The judge, Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced the John after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

The judge, however, gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 fine and N50, 000 restitution to the complainant.

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Bokkos said that if the convict defaulted in paying the restitution, three months should be added to his sentence to make it six months imprisonment.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp Monday Dabit, told the court that the case was reported at the B Division Police Station, Jos, on Dec.  1, 2024, by Ms Nerat Danjuma.

He said that the complainant alleged that the defendant trespassed into her house and stole her mobile phone valued at N165, 000.

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The prosecutor further told the court that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code, Law of Northern Nigeria.

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