Court withholds ex-Gov Obiano’s passport

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, has ordered that the passports and travel documents belonging to the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, be kept in its custody and that of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
It also ordered the former governor not to travel outside the jurisdiction without the permission of the court.
A statement issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said Obiano was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on nine counts bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4 billion.
He was alleged to have moved the said sum from the security votes into different accounts, and the money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to him in cash.
However, Obiano pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him and the matter was adjourned to March 4–7, 2024, for trial.