The trial of former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano continued on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Two prosecution witnesses testified about their roles in delivering cash to Obiano through his proxies, utilizing the state’s Security Votes account.
Ugochukwu Chinedu, a former banker and Prosecution Witness 3 (PW3), managed the Anambra State Government accounts, including the Security Vote account, from November 2, 2008, to March 26, 2023. He told the court that he regularly delivered cash in both naira and dollars to Obiano based on instructions from Willie Nwokoye, Obiano’s former principal secretary, and Theophilus Meize, the state’s accountant, who were signatories to the Security Vote account.
“I processed transactions with the principal secretary, either daily or weekly, mostly using cheques. I visited his office on Fridays to balance the account. All transactions were based on the account holders’ instructions,” Chinedu testified.
Chinedu further revealed that in July 2021, he was notified by the compliance officer about an EFCC investigation into the Security Vote account. He was asked to provide details about other accounts he managed, including Udo Ventures Limited, Moment of Peace Limited, Easy Diamond Integrated Links Limited, C.I Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited, and Xpressive Consult Nig. Limited. Documents related to these accounts were submitted as evidence.
Prosecution Witness 4 (PW4), businessman Hayatu Hassan, who operates five Bureau de Change companies, testified that he facilitated a total of N222,371,000 in dollar equivalents to the Anambra State Government under Obiano’s administration.
“Last year, the EFCC invited me and questioned my business dealings with the Anambra State Government. They showed me transactions from my company, Commaught International Services Limited, totaling N222,371,000. These transactions converted to $600,000, which I sold to another BDC operator, Ayuba Tanko. I was unaware that the funds came from the Anambra State Government,” Hassan said.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the trial to October 7-10 for continuation. Obiano faces nine-count charges of embezzlement and money laundering amounting to N4 billion, brought by the EFCC.
