The trial of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra State, resumed on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja with two prosecution witnesses revealing how they allegedly gave cash to Obiano both in naira and dollars through his proxy.
Ugochukwu Chinedu, Prosecution Witness, PW3, and former banker between November 2, 2008 to March 26, 2023, who was the account manager of the Anambra State Government, including the state’s Security Vote account, told the court that he used to send raw cashed Naira and US dollars to Obiano in accordance with instructions given to him by Willie Nwokoye and Theophilus Meize, Obiano’s former principal secretary and accountant in the state House of Representatives respectively, who signed the Security Votes accounts.
“Usually I handle transactions with the main secretary, both daily and weekly, mostly using check instruments. I’m going to his office on Friday to balance the account. “All the transactions I make are usually based on instructions given to him by the account holder,” he said.
Further in his testimony, PW3 stated that “sometime in July 2021, I received a call from the compliance officer that they received an invitation from the EFCC regarding the ongoing investigation into the administration of the Anambra State Government Security Votes account. During the investigation, I was asked to provide details of several other accounts I managed including Udo Ventures Limited, Moment of Peace Limited, Easy Diamond Integrated Links Limited, CI Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited, Xpressive Consult Nig. Limited, among others.”
Documents relating to the said accounts were marked PW3 A1 to A215, tendered and accepted as evidence.
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In line with Hayatu Hassan, a businessman and Prosecution Witness 4, (PW4), who is said to operate five Bureau de Change companies, namely: Seltris BDC Limited, Seltris Limited, Commaught International Services Limited, Holdall Limited and Norricelea Limited revealed that he provided the sum of N222.37 million in dollars equivalent to the Anambra State Government under Obiano.
“Sometime last year, I was invited by the EFCC Office in Abuja and asked if I had any business with the Anambra State Government and I said No. Later, the person who interviewed me showed me that my company Commaught International Services Limited had done some transactions with the state government. He showed me some payments in seven transactions made on my Commaught account. Two different transactions were in February 2018, about N172.3 million, and amounted to $465,000. Another in March 2018 for N50 million and for $135,000, bringing the total to $600,000 and the naira equivalent of N222.37 million.
“I sold the dollars to Ayuba Tanko, another BDC operator. As soon as the transaction was completed, I handed over the dollars to Ayuba Tanko. I didn’t know it was from the Anambra State Government,” he said.
Judge Ekwo postponed the case until October 7, 8, 9 and 10 for the continuation of the trial.
Obiano is facing prosecution by the EFCC on nine counts of alleged embezzlement and money laundering worth N4 billion.
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