Obiano Arrested Over Alleged Misappropriation Of N42 Billion In Public Funds – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) has revealed that the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was arrested on Thursday over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to N42 billion.

EFCC Arrest Willie Obiano

KanyiDaily had reported that Obiano was apprehended by EFCC operatives 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 watch list of the commission 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.

Sources at the anti-graft agency said the former governor was transferred from their Lagos office to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja for interrogation on Friday morning, March 18.

EFCC Reveals Why Obiano Was Arrested

According to the EFCC source, the former governor was arrested for misappropriating N5bn Sure-P and N37 billion Security Vote funds, which was withdrawn in cash.

The source alleged that Obiano used part of the N42 billion to fund political activities in the state.

“Willie Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N37billion security vote, which was withdrawn in cash,” said the EFCC.

Sources said the EFCC is also in possession of other petitions alleging corruption against Obiano.

One of such petitions, a source said, alleged massive corruption in the management of the N17bn Paris Club refund to the state.

“There are also petitions alleging inflated projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost was believed to be exaggerated.

The EFCC has been doing its investigations all this while and are convinced that Obiano has a case to answer,” adds the source.

KanyiDaily recalls that Obiano had been on the watch list of the EFCC after the commission requested the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to inform it anytime the ex-governor is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.