Anambra’s Former Governor, Willie Obiano, Granted Bail After Money Laundering Arraignment

Willie Obiano, the former governor of Anambra state, faced arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges related to alleged money laundering. The proceedings took place before Inyang Ekwo, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja.

Obiano, maintaining his innocence, entered a plea of not guilty to the nine-count charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency. Following the arraignment, Sylvanus Tahir, the EFCC counsel, sought to have the defendant remanded in custody until the trial’s commencement. However, Obiano’s counsel, Onyinyechi Ikpeazu, urged the court to grant bail to his client.

In a ruling on the applications, Judge Ekwo granted bail to Obiano based on the administrative terms earlier established by the EFCC. Additionally, the judge stipulated that the defendant’s international passport must be submitted to the court within 10 days, with instructions for the court registrar to notify the immigration service upon its transfer.

The trial is scheduled to commence on March 4, marking the next chapter in the legal proceedings against Obiano. This development comes after the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra, in September 2021, urged the EFCC to investigate the state’s finances, alleging “monumental deception” and fraudulent use of the state’s security vote by the former governor, as claimed by Basil Ejidike, Anambra APC chairman.