Anambra Women Threatens To Protest Naked At EFCC Headquarters Over Obiano’s Detention

Anambra-North Women Empowerment Movement (AWEM) has threatened to protest naked at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the detention of the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.

KanyiDaily had reported how Obiano was apprehended by the EFCC at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos at about 8.30 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

The former governor, who had been on the EFCC watch list since November 15, 2021, was arrested while trying to board a flight to the United States.

The arrest came barely hours after Obiano completed his second term as governor and handed over to Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who was sworn in as the sixth governor of the state on Thursday.

Over the weekend, a video had gone viral on social media showing Obiano dressed in shorts and a white shirt, while drinking from a bottle in a closed room presumed to be in EFCC custody.

The viral video has since elicited reactions, with many Nigerians denouncing it and demanding an investigation into its leakage into the social media space.

Anambra Women Condemn Detention Of Obiano By EFCC

In a statement released on Monday, March 21, the Chairperson of AWEM, Uju Ifunanya Edochie, frowned at the release of a video showing the governor in EFCC custody.

The women, who slammed the anti-graft agency for its reckless and unprofessional behaviour towards Obiano, threatened to protest naked at EFCC office in Abuja if the ex-governor is not released urgently.

The statement reads, “We, Anambra-North Women Empowerment Movement (AWEM) are issuing stern admonitions to EFCC for its reckless and unprofessional behaviour towards handling the case of the former Governor Of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano.

“We strongly condemn the vile trending online video clip of Chief Willie Obiano while in EFCC custody. It is quite obvious that the particular video was taken without Chief Willie Obiano’s knowledge nor consent and as such, this premeditated brouhaha by the EFCC seems to veer into a caricature and witch-hunting which is a mockery of Nigeria’s judicial due process.

“The Former Governor, Willie Obiano, was one of the leading performing governors in Nigeria as he had profound achievements in agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, commerce and trade, security, employment rate, civil service as well as state economy.

“Under the administration of Willie Obiano, Anambra state experienced new dawn at sunset. Anambra ranked lowest in poverty index, the unemployment rate dropped drastically, three jumbo rice mills were established in different parts of the state, 17 iconic bridges and flyovers were constructed with numerous standard roads throughout the state, functional street and traffic lights were mounted on all roads, built the first Anambra Airport and so on.

“Ndi Anambra frowns sternly at this disgraceful and unruly act displayed by the EFCC. Appropriate and humane trial tactics should be exercised by EFCC.

“In conclusion, EFCC facility is not safe if they could humiliate an ex-governor, made a video of him in their supposed protective custody, sent to social media for the public to mock. And we would protest at EFCC Abuja office naked if EFCC doesn’t release urgently the Ex-governor, Obiano”.

KanyiDaily recalls that a former national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh had insisted that Willie Obiano did wonderfully well with Anambra money.