EFCC Reveals Why Obiano Was Arrested Hours after Handing Over to Soludo as Anambra Governor
- The EFCC has said it arrested former Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, because he had been on its watchlist for months
- Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC's spokesman, said the arrest was made after Obiano handed over to a successor because immunity covered him from prosecution when he was the sitting governor
- Obiano was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos while heading to the United States
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FCT, Abuja - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed why the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was arrested a few hours after handing over power to his successor, Charles Soludo.
Obiano, who handed over to Soludo earlier on Thursday, March 17, was arrested in the evening of the same day at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos while heading to the United States.
Source: Twitter
However, speaking with the BBC Pidgin on Friday morning, March 18, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC's spokesman, said Obiano’s arrest followed several months of his being on the watchlist of the agency.
He explained that the EFCC had to wait till after the inauguration because Obiano had an immunity as a sitting governor.
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The EFCC was quoted to have said when asked why Obiano was arrested:
“Obiano has been on our watchlist for sometime now. He had immunity as a governor and that is why we could not arrest him before now.
“Today he lost the immunity and was traveling out of the country before we finally arrested him."
It is, however, not clear why the anti-graft agency placed Obiano on its watchlist in the first place.
3 alleged offences that reportedly led to Obiano's arrest by EFCC
Also, a report by The Punch has highlighted some alleged offences which led to Obiano's arrest.
According to the report, Obiano was arrested for alleged mismanagement of over N17bn Paris Club refund and security vote.
The former Anambra governor is also reportedly being probed over suspicious projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost was allegedly inflated.
Contradictory reports on Obiano's alleged release
While some media reports stated that the EFCC has released Obiano, others stated that the former governor is still in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
EFCC spokesman, Uwujaren, however, was cited by The Punch as confirming that Obiano is still in custody. He, however, did not state how long the anti-graft agency would detain the All Progressives Grand Alliance chieftain.
Uwujaren did not also state whether the ex-governor was arrested alongside his wife, Ebelechukwu.
Source: Legit.ng
