The Federal High Court in Abuja has set November 25, 2025, for the trial of former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano on a nine-count charge of alleged N4 billion money laundering, as confirmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On July 24, 2025, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the case after addressing other judgments, following the case’s reassignment from Justice Inyang Ekwo by Chief Judge John Tsoho on May 18. Obiano, who governed Anambra from March 2014 to March 2022, is accused by the EFCC of diverting state funds, including over N1.2 billion from security votes to unrelated companies, violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Previous hearings saw witnesses, including former bank staff Ugochukwu Otubelu and BDC operator Ayuba Tanko, testify that funds from Anambra’s security vote account, managed by Obiano’s aides Willy Nwokoye and Theophilus Nweze, were funneled into proxy accounts, with N416 million converted to $1.137 million in 2017.
Obiano’s legal team, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), maintains he had no direct involvement, and a motion to quash the charges was dismissed. “I did not deal directly with the defendant,” Tanko testified, supporting the defense’s stance. With the trial restarting under Justice Umar, the case continues to draw attention for its implications on accountability for public funds in Nigeria.
