The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested and detained Willie Obiano, the immediate past Governor of Anambra state. ayokinews.com reports
Obiano was arrested on Thursday, hours after attending the inauguration of Chukuwuma Soludo as governor of Anambra state, an event which marked the end of his eight-year tenure.
This comes months after the EFCC placed the former governor on its corruption watch list.
The anti-graft agency had demanded to be notified if Obiano was detected attempting to leave the country, according to a letter dated November 15, 2021 and issued to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
While the reasons for Obiano’s detention by the EFCC are unknown, he was claimed to be under investigation for fraud at the time of his placement on the watch list.
Chukwuma Soludo, officially sworn in as Governor of Anambra state
In September 2021, the All Progressive Congress (APC), requested that the anti-graft agency investigate Anambra state’s financial records in order to uncover what it termed as “monumental deception”.
Obiano was accused by Basil Ejidike, chairman of Anambra APC, of “fraudulently” utilizing the state’s security vote.
However, Don Adinuba, the state’s commissioner for information at the time, argued that the dispute between the governor and the EFCC was orchestrated by powerful individuals who “unsuccessfully canvassed for emergency rule” in the state during the run-up to the gubernatorial election in November 2021.
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