Connect with us

News

BREAKING: Court Grants Obiano bail after arraignment over alleged N4 billion fraud

Published

on

67 Views

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.

More Insights
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

Insecurity Renders 80 million Nigerian youths jobless- Report

The document, titled “State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025,” presented in Abuja, yesterday, by the Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, Jonathan Abakpa, painted a troubling picture of wasted opportunities in a country where over 60 percent of the population is below the age of 30.

Published

on

By

34 Views

A new report by an independent humanitarian non-profit organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has said that nearly 80 million Nigerian youths are unemployed, while more than 1,500 schools have been shut in the past two years due to insecurity.

The organisation, while raising alarm over the worsening conditions confronting young people in the country, said the development had left about one million children out of school.

The document, titled “State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025,” presented in Abuja, yesterday, by the Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, Jonathan Abakpa, painted a troubling picture of wasted opportunities in a country where over 60 percent of the population is below the age of 30.

The report, produced in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, with contributions from policy and advocacy experts, was presented at the Nigerian youth dialogue in commemoration of the International Youth Day, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Youth in Parliament.

(The Guardian )

Continue Reading

News

Benjamin Hundeyin Takes Over As New Force PRO

The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.

Published

on

By

31 Views

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

He takes over from DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who served as Force PRO until his redeployment.

Hundeyin, a graduate of English Language from Lagos State University, also holds a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

He further obtained a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

The new FPRO is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a Member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

A seasoned communicator, Hundeyin previously served as the Police Public Relations Officer at Zone 2 Command, Lagos, and later at the Lagos State Police Command.

He was also part of Nigeria’s contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan, in 2020, and at different times worked at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as Administration Officer in the Public Relations Department.

The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Iconic Italian Fashion Designer, Giorgio Armani Dies at 91

Published

on

36 Views

The legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91, his company announced on Thursday.

“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the fashion house said in a statement.

The fashion house said that Armani “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones”, noting that he remained committed to his craft until the very end.

“Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, its collections, and the diverse and ever-evolving projects both existing and in progress,” the statement read.

Ohibaba.com reports that Armani founded his eponymous label in 1975, revolutionising global fashion with his trademark sleek, understated designs.

His style soon became synonymous with elegance and sophistication, extending beyond clothing into lifestyle, interiors, fragrances, and luxury accessories.

Over the decades, Armani dressed Hollywood stars, world leaders, and athletes, building a global empire that redefined Italian fashion on the world stage.

Continue Reading

Trending