News
BREAKING: Court Grants Obiano bail after arraignment over alleged N4 billion fraud
Willie Obiano, the former Governor of Anambra, has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja after facing a nine-count charge of allegedly laundering approximately N4 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Willie Obiano, the ex-governor of Anambra state, accusing him of involvement in a N4 billion fraud.
The former governor appeared Judge Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
The anti-graft agency accused Obiano on nine counts of alleged N4 billion money laundering during his time as governor of the South-East state from March 2014 to March 2022.
Meanwhile, the ex-governor denied the money laundering charges against him by pleading not guilty.
Sylvanus Tahir, the counsel for the EFCC, asked the court to detain Obiano in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
However, judge Ekwo granted the former governor bail and adjourned the case till March 4 for the commencement of trial.
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According to Tahir, some of the charges brought against include alleged money laundering, corruption and theft, among others.
The case file reads,
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence 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.
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence 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.”
Meanwhile, the former governor pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
News
JUST IN: Lagos Fire Service Successfully Contains Two Overnight Fire Incidents iin Lagos
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed the successful containment of two separate fire incidents that occurred overnight in different parts of the state.
The first incident was reported at 22:46 hours on Saturday at Tower Aluminum Village, along Abeokuta Expressway, Dopemu, Agege.
Fire crews from Ikeja and Agege stations responded promptly to the emergency, effectively dousing the fire which affected multiple offices and stores of varying sizes.
The structures, situated on a land area of approximately 2,592 square meters within a premises spanning about four acres, suffered significant damage to affected sections and their contents.
The second incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at about 03:15 hours at a three-storey commercial building located on Oyabiyi Street, opposite the NLC Office, Tejuosho, Yaba. The building, which housed shops and stores containing stacked textile materials, was engulfed by fire.
Firefighters from Somolu, Ilupeju, and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations were swiftly mobilized to the scene and successfully contained the blaze, preventing further spread to adjoining properties.
In both incidents, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service demonstrated professionalism and rapid response, ensuring that the fires were brought under control without escalation and casualty.
The Controller General of Lagos state fire and rescue reiterates the importance of fire safety precautions and urges members of the public to remain vigilant, especially in commercial areas where flammable materials are stored.
Further investigations into the causes of the fires are ongoing to unravel their causes.
News
Police must pay transport fares, says AIG
” No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
• The Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, speaking with transporters at Obalende garage, Lagos State, on Wednesday.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has declared that officers must pay fares before boarding commercial vehicles, warning against abuse of authority.
Jimoh spoke on Wednesday at Obalende garage during a sensitisation meeting with drivers and transport workers marking National Police Day 2026.
He stressed that relations between police and the public must be based on partnership, not coercion, urging both sides to support each other voluntarily.
“No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
Jimoh called for stronger cooperation to maintain safety and order on roads, insisting there was no conflict between officers and transport unions.
“I don’t collect money from officers. We don’t arrest people arbitrarily. If you have issues with any officer, report directly to me,” he said.
(Vanguard)
News
Tinubu scurries to Jos after Mutfwang’s security brief
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave for Jos tomorrow to commiserate with the state government and residents over recent deadly gun attacks that lefts dozens dead.
This was following Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s security briefing to the President on the recent violent attack in Angwan Rukuba, Plateau State.
During the meeting on Wednesday at the presidential villa in Abuja, Governor Caleb Mutfwang told Mr President that although security forces have restored calm after fresh disturbances involving looters on Wednesday morning, following the deadly Palm Sunday attack that left more than a dozen dead and many others injured.
He said that investigations are continuing to determine the identities or motives of the attackers who are yet to be apprehended .
Presidency source said that President Tinubu was initially scheduled for a planned trip to Ogun State to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport on Thursday.
From Jos, the President will travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday.
On Saturday, April 4, he will visit Ogun State to commission projects including the cargo airport.
He will then return to Lagos during the Easter holiday to commission several state infrastructure projects, including the Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge.
Before heading back to Abuja, the president will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission projects completed under Governor Duoye Diri.
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