The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it will be calling 15 witnesses to prove the N4bn theft charges it filed against a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.
The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Slyvanus Tahir (SAN), disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after Obiano was arraigned on nine counts before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
After Obiano pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Inyang Ekwo, the prosecutor said the EFCC was ready and eager to prosecute the case, noting that 15 witnesses were on hand to prove the case.
“My Lord, we are ready for the commencement of the trial in this matter. We have 15 witnesses with documentary evidence against the defendant that are within the court’s jurisdiction.But we urge you to give a remand order,” Tahir said.
In the charges, the EFCC alleged that Obiano diverted Anambra State’s security votes to the tune of N4,008,573,350 while he was in the sadle as governor between 2014 and 2022.
The EFCC accused him of indirectly transferring, through his Private Principal Secretary, N1.2bn from the state security vote account to another account belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures, an entity with no business with the state.
The anti-graft agency also accused him of indirectly transferring the sum of N860,716,200 from the state security vote account through his Principal Private Secretary, Wille Nwokoye, to Youdooh Ventures, an entity with no business with the government for reasons unrelated to security affairs.
Obaino was further accused of transferring the sum of N659,112,900 from the state’s security vote account through Nwokoye to an account belonging to Nazdal Ventures.
