A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled 25 November 2025 for the trial of former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano in a ₦4 billion money laundering case.
The case, brought by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had earlier been delayed following a change of judge. The trial will now proceed under Justice Mohammed Umar, who recently took over the case from Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Obiano, who governed Anambra from March 2014 to March 2022, faces a nine-count charge involving alleged misappropriation of public funds.
The EFCC has already presented several witnesses, including a former bank staff member, Ugochukwu Otubelu, who testified in October 2024 about his role in managing the state’s security vote account during Obiano’s administration.
Otubelu told the court he worked closely with top government officials, including the former Principal Secretary to the Governor and the State Accountant, who were signatories to the account. He explained that funds from the account were transferred to six different company accounts, though not directly to the account holders.
Another witness, Ayuba Tanko, a Bureau De Change operator, said he received ₦416 million through a company he ran by proxy and returned the funds as \$1.137 million in cash.
“I was invited by the EFCC in 2023 and questioned about the company’s account. I confirmed that I exchanged the naira payments into US dollars,” Tanko testified in court last November.
He clarified during cross-examination that he never had any direct dealings with Obiano himself.
Several bankers have also testified as part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to trace the funds.
Obiano, who has denied any wrongdoing, will face the continuation of the trial when the court reconvenes in November.
The EFCC says investigations into the alleged financial mismanagement under Obiano’s tenure are still ongoing.