Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has moved former Anambra Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano to Abuja after he was arrested in Lagos on Thursday night, denying reports of releasing him from detention.
Obiano was arrested by the EFCC at about 8:30pm on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on his way to Houston, Texas, U.S after handing over to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo.
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However, reports (not The PUNCH) emerged on Friday morning that Obiano had been released from the EFCC custody.
Speaking, spokesperson for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujiaren, clarified that Obiano is still in detention when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
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“The ex-governor was arrested in Lagos, but was moved to Abuja this morning (Friday),” Uwujiaren said.
Uwujiaren said the commission had requested the Nigeria Immigration Service to provide information on the former governor’s movement out of the country from airports, or other points of exit from the country.
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The spokesman, however, did not state whether the ex-governor was arrested alongside his wife, Ebelechukwu.
The arrest occurred hours after his wife was reportedly slapped by Bianca, widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the inauguration of Soludo as the governor of the state.
The commission’s spokesperson said that Obiano had been on the EFCC’s watch list for some months, adding that his immunity as a governor prevented his arrest until he handed over to his successor.
Reports say Obiano was arrested for allegedly mismanaging over N17bn Paris Club refund and security vote.
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He is also being probed over some suspicious projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost was believed to be inflated.
