EFCC frees Obiano, makes no political statements

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, after he spent four nights in its custody.

Abdulrasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Panel (EFCC), told media on Monday in Abuja that the former governor was collaborating with the commission to perfect the bail terms.

According to him, the former governor’s detention had nothing to do with politics.

“The probe is not political in nature. You’re familiar with the EFCC, we look into crimes, we look into the people who have committed crimes, we connect the dots, and then we go to court. That’s all we’ve been doing, and that’s all we’ll keep doing”. Bawa added

“We have been accused of media trial. But we will continue to do our investigation professionally”.

“He has been granted bail and we are waiting for him to perfect his bail conditions he has been cooperating with us and everything is going on well,” he said.

Obiano was arrested on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while trying to board a flight to Texas, United States.

Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor during a Thanksgiving service held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Isuofia, has expressed hope that former Governor Willie Obiano who is currently being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will soon be released by the commission

Governor Soludo described the embattled former Governor as a good man who did his best in Anambra State.

The EFCC had in November last year placed the former governor on a watchlist.

The Commission requested that the Nigeria Immigration Service place the governor on a watchlist and notify it whenever he travels out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit in a letter dated November 15, 2021 to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The former governor was detained for allegedly misappropriating N5 billion from the Sure-P fund and N37 billion from the Security Vote fund, which were removed in cash.

Part of the monies were also reportedly transferred to fund state political operations.

Chinaza Ogbachalu

My name is Chinaza Ogbachalu, and I am a writer. I have been writing news and opinion articles for five years plus and have always had a passion for storytelling. I grew up in Nigeria and graduated from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with a degree in linguistics and communication studies. I have written books that have been well-received by critics and readers alike. My work often focuses on culture and lifestyle, and I draw inspiration from my own experiences and observations of the world around me. As a news writer, I am responsible for researching and writing engaging and accurate news stories for our online audience. I have a strong passion for current events and am skilled at conducting interviews and gathering information from sources. I am grateful for the support of my readers and am constantly humbled by their enthusiasm for my work. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my writing.