… As his wife is enmeshed in controversy
The former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC
Obiano who was picked up at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos was on his way out of the country when he was apprehended.
According to Channels Television, Obiano, who has just handed over to his successor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has been on the watchlist of the EFCC since November last year..
He was intercepted by operatives of the anti-graft agency as he made his way out of Nigeria at about 8.30pm.
So far, information pertaining to the reason why the former governor has become a guest of the commission is still sketchy, but there are indications that his arrest may not be unconnected with his activities while serving in office.
Channels reports that the Nigeria Immigration Service may have tipped off the EFCC about the Governor’s travel plan.
Intelligence available suggest that the former who succeeded in planting a successor might have been planning to flee after handing over power to Professor Charles Soludo.
Supporters of the former Governor believe his inclusion on the EFCC watchlist may have been politically motivated.
Former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba, had earlier, condemned reports that Obiano is on the EFCC watchlist
“Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive,” Adinuba was quoted as saying.
“Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution.
“The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated”, Afinuba added.
Now, Obiano whose wife is embroiled in yet another controversy for messing up Bianca, wife of former Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu is in serious soup.
Mrs Willie Obiano in a video that has gone viral allegedly got a slap for describing a fellow woman and a widow as a prostitute.
With Obiano in the can, attention would rapidly shift from his wife to efforts which would be made in the days ahead to secure his bail in court.