The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, over allegations of N4 billion fraud.

The former governor who appeared before Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High court Abuja on Wednesday was charged on a nine-count of multiple fraud allegations.

According to parts of the charges, the EFCC is accusing Mr Obiano of fraudulently transferring N156,800.00 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote through his then principal private secretary, Willie Nwokoye “to a company belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government).

The anti-graft authority further stated that the offence is contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. 

After the charges were read to him, the former governor pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr Obiano had served as governor from March 2014 to March 2022. He was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on March 16, 2022, barely hours after handing over to his successor, Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.