The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided intricate details on how the former Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano, purportedly laundered approximately N4 billion from the state’s security votes account, utilizing state officials.
According to the EFCC, it is on the brink of completing a comprehensive investigation into Obiano’s tenure spanning from 2014 to 2022, particularly focusing on his handling of the state’s security votes allocation.
This disclosure came as part of the EFCC’s response to a motion filed by Obiano challenging the competence of a money laundering charge leveled against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Obiano has also contested the jurisdiction of the court to preside over the charge he was arraigned for on January 24.
The charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/15/2024, alleges that during his tenure from March 2014 to March 2022, Obiano indirectly siphoned funds from the Anambra State Government’s security vote account, diverting them for purposes unrelated to addressing security challenges within the state.
In its counter affidavit, the EFCC revealed that investigations into the utilization of the Anambra State Government’s security votes under Obiano’s administration indicated that he allegedly enlisted the help of certain state government officials, including his Principal Private Secretary, Willie Nwokoye, as well as Otubetu Ugochukwu Chinedu and Uzuegbuna Okagbue, whom he appointed as his Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff.
The EFCC detailed instances outlined in the charge where funds from the Anambra State Government’s security vote were allegedly transferred to non-financial institutions and individual accounts at the instruction of Obiano. These funds were purportedly converted into United States dollars, collected in cash, and handed over to Obiano by his Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff, Uzuegbuna Okagbue, under the guise of being allocated for strategic security engagements, without substantiated evidence.
Moreover, the EFCC rebuked Obiano’s argument suggesting he shouldn’t be held accountable for the actions of Anambra officials involved in the alleged infractions. The commission contended that as Governor, Obiano should have taken action against individuals who withdrew funds belonging to Anambra State and delivered them to him if their actions were unauthorized and unlawful.