The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has opened the case at the Federal High Court , Abuja against the former governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano who is accused of Money Laundering and looting of state funds.
Obiano appeared at the trial , a lone figure, devoid of the usual retinue of Aides , security details and hangers on that surrounded him when in office. He was looking faded, and a tragic shadow of his usual flamboyant self.
Conspicuously absent was his wife Ebelechukwu, former First Lady of Anambra state who has not made any public appearances in the state following the now famous send forth slap which was dished to her by widow of Biafra leader and Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Bianca Ojukwu, at the Swearing in Ceremony of Governor Charles Soludo at the Anambra State House on 17 th March 2022.
To make matters worse, the former First Lady suffered what was considered a disgraceful failure at the polls, coming a distant fourth when she contested for the senatorial elections to represent her zone at the red chambers .
It is alleged that a whopping 1 billion Naira was committed to her senatorial campaign by her husband, the former governor, and despite the fact that the state was under APGA control, the campaign suffered setbacks as Mrs Obiano was frequently booed and became object of caricature each time she visited the local markets in the state to campaign.
It is also alleged that she has vowed never to return to the state following the slap saga and her electoral defeat, even shunning the recent funeral of her favorite sister in law Ms Elizabeth Obiano and unlike other former First Ladies of the state, continues to shun any distinguished or public ceremonies in the state.
She has since embarked on self imposed exile in America, where she has found succor in the shopping malls in Houston, Texas where she is frequently spotted whiling away the hours of the day while her husband Willie Obiano has been abandoned to face the EFCC music on his own.
She is alleged to have been a beneficiary of at least 3 billion Naira of state funds which were also lodged into various proxy accounts both in Nigeria and the USA.
Obiano is facing nine counts of charges brought against him by the EFCC wherein he is charged with stealing Anambra State security votes in excess of 4 billion during his tenure as Governor of the state between March 2014 and March 2022.
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