The trial of former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano continued on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the court admitting additional evidence in the form of bank statements.
The documents were submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of its case against the former governor, who is facing allegations of embezzling over N4 billion from the state treasury.
The EFCC presented several new witnesses during the trial, including a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Alhaji Ayuba Tanko Abdullahi, who detailed how funds were diverted from the Anambra State treasury and funneled into his company’s accounts.
Abdullahi, testifying as the fifth prosecution witness, explained that he received funds in Naira, which were then converted into U.S. dollars and handed over to Obiano’s associates.
Abdullahi stated that over a period of eight months, he received a total of N416 million, which was converted into $1.137 million and delivered to Obiano’s aides.
He confirmed that the EFCC only questioned him about the transactions in 2023, several years after the events had occurred.
Despite this, the witness admitted under cross-examination that he had no direct dealings with the former governor.
The court accepted the bank documents as evidence and marked them as exhibits.
Following Abdullahi’s testimony, three bank officials took the stand to present further details about suspicious transactions linked to Anambra State government accounts.
The sixth witness, Mr. Jeremiah Nnamdim, provided evidence of over N473 million being deposited into the account of Connought International Services Limited, which is allegedly linked to the fraudulent activities.
He outlined a series of payments made between February and March 2018, including multiple deposits totaling N110 million.
Nnamdim clarified that he had no knowledge of any legal proceedings involving Connought International Services related to these transactions.
Another witness, Ms. Iwu Onyinyechi, a banker, testified about several large payments into the account of a company called S. Y. Panda Enterprises.
She confirmed that N58 million was transferred to the company on October 30, 2018, followed by another N36 million on November 13, 2018, all from Anambra State government funds.
The court adjourned the case until February 24, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
Obiano, who served as governor from March 2014 to March 2022, is facing a nine-count charge brought by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency has accused him of embezzling over N4 billion from the state’s Security Vote Account, which was allegedly converted into dollars and delivered to him in cash.
Obiano was arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on March 17, 2022, shortly after leaving office.
He was about to board a flight to the United States when he was detained by the EFCC.
The EFCC’s case alleges that between February 16, 2018, and March 9, 2018, Obiano instructed his Chief Protocol Officer, Uzuegbuna Okagbue, to transfer N223 million from the state’s Security Vote Account to Connought International Services Limited.
This money was then converted into $600,000 and delivered to Obiano in cash.
The agency also claims that between October 30, 2018, and November 13, 2018, Obiano directed Okagbue to transfer N95 million to S. Y. Panda Enterprises, which was converted to $260,000 and delivered to him in cash.
Obiano has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted bail, with the court seizing his international passport as part of the bail conditions.
The EFCC has lined up 15 witnesses to testify in the case, which remains ongoing.
Earlier in the proceedings, Obiano’s legal team filed a motion seeking to quash the charges on the grounds that the court in Abuja did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, as the alleged crimes occurred in Anambra State.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the motion, allowing the EFCC to continue presenting its case against the former governor.
