‘N4bn fraud’: Court fixes November 25 to commence Obiano’s trial afresh

The federal high court in Abuja has fixed November 25 for the trial of Willie Obiano, the former governor of Anambra, in the alleged N4 billion fraud charge against him.

On January 24, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obiano before Inyang Ekwo, a judge, over a nine-count charge.

Obiano, who was governor between March 2014 and March 2022, allegedly diverted the money from the state’s security vote account in his last five years in office.

He allegedly directed the diversion between April 2017 and March 2022.

According to the EFCC, the funds were diverted through companies with no business relationship with the Anambra government, converted to dollars, and handed to the former governor.

However, the court admitted Obiano to bail after he pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC, through its lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, led two witnesses in evidence on October 7, 2024, before Ekwo.

Ugochukwu Otubelu, a former commercial bank staff member who testified as the third prosecution witness, told the court how he managed the security vote account under Obiano’s government.

The witness said the signatories to the security vote account were Willy Nwokoye, former principal secretary to the ex-governor, and Theophilus Nweze, the accountant.

Otubelu added that he interfaced with them mostly on a daily and weekly basis in processing their transactions.

The witness admitted that funds from the security vote account went into six company accounts but noted that the money did not go to the account holders.

The EFCC also called Hayatu Hadejia, a bureau de change (BDC) operator, as its fourth witness.

Hadejia said he had five companies and was invited by the EFCC as part of its investigations into the financial activities of the government of Obiano.

Another BDC operator, Ayuba Tanko, on November 13, 2024, said between April and December 2017, N416 million was paid into a company’s account he used by proxy.

Ayuba, who was the fifth witness, said the N416 million, which was received in tranches, was given back as $1.137 million equivalent.

Under cross-examination, the witness said he had no direct dealings with Obiano.

However, upon Ekwo’s suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the case was reassigned to Mohammed Umar, another judge.