The former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has entered a plea of not guilty to the nine charges of money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The alleged money laundering involves a sum of N4,008,573,350, which was purportedly transferred from security votes to various accounts. The accusations span the period between March 2014 and March 2022.
During his arraignment on Wednesday, Obiano denied all nine counts. One of the charges stated, “While serving as the executive governor of Anambra State from March 2014 to March 2022, you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, allegedly indirectly transferred funds through Mr. Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited. The funds, amounting to N156,800.00, were utilized for purposes unrelated to the security affairs of Anambra State, constituting an offense under Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
Similar charges detail other instances where substantial sums were allegedly transferred abroad and dissipated for purposes inconsistent with the security affairs of Anambra State.The former governor faces accusations related to activities conducted between specific dates, involving the sum of N261,268,585.00 and the entity Easy Diamond Integrated Link.
The charges assert that Obiano reasonably ought to have known that these funds formed part of the proceeds of his unlawful acts, namely, stealing and corruption.
