Alex Enumah in Abuja
Former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the nine count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the charge, the former governor was said to have moved the total sum of N4,008,573,350, from the states’ security votes into different private bank accounts.
The offences were said to have been committed between March 2014 and March 2022.
When the charges were read to him upon his arraignment, he, however, pleaded not guilty to all the nine-count criminal charge.
Responding, counsel to the prosecution, Mr Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, prayed the court to remand the governor in custody pending the commencement of trial.
However, Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, objected to the remand request on the grounds that he had filed an application for the bail of his client which had been served on the prosecution. Confirming service of the bail application, Tahir, also admitted that the defendant had been on administration bail, granted by the commission.
Subsequently, Justice Ekwo adopted all the conditions of the administrative bail that the anti-graft agency had granted the former governor.
The conditions as enumerated by the prosecution included that the defendant provided two sureties who were directors in the civil service with landed property.
The judge asked the EFCC to transfer Obiano’s international passport to the court within seven days of making the order and that he was not to travel outside the country without the permission of the court.
The judge also asked the registrar of the court to inform the Nigeria Immigration Service that Obiano’s international passport was now with the court.
Following concerns from the prosecuting counsel, the court also said it would verify the residential addresses of Obiano’s sureties.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 4, 5, 6 and 7 for trial.
