Obiano Not Released, Only Transferred To Abuja — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed that the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has not been released from detention.

In an exclusive chat with The PUNCH, the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that Obiano was transferred to Abuja on Friday morning.

Obiano was arrested by the EFCC on Thursday night hours after his handover to the new Anambra governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

However, reports emerged on Friday morning that Obiano had been released from the EFCC custody.

But the EFCC PRO stated that the reports were false and that the ex-governor was still with the commission.

“He’s still with the commission. He was even transferred from Lagos to Abuja this morning,” Uwujaren said.

Uwujaren, however, did not state whether the ex-governor was arrested alongside his wife, Ebelechukwu.

The EFCC operatives picked up Obiano at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 08:30pm.

The ex-governor, who had been on the watch list of the EFCC since November 15, 2021, was arrested while trying to board a flight to the United States.

The arrest occurred hours after his wife was reportedly slapped by the widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca at the inauguration of Soludo as the governor of the state.

It was learnt that Obiano was arrested for allegedly mismanaging over N17bn Paris Club refund and security vote.

He is also being probed over some suspicious projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost was believed to be inflated.