Just four months to the tenure expiration of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, reports emerged during the week that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed the governor on a watchlist over allegations bordering on mismanagement of public funds.
The anti-graft agency in a letter addressed to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and dated November 15, 2021, was said to have requested the service to place the governor on a watchlist with a bid to monitor Obiano’s whereabouts.
Though the details of the decision by the anti-graft agency to place Obiano on a watchlist remains sketchy as of now, a source privy to the matter reportedly said the governor is being placed on the radar for allegedly mismanaging over N17 billion Paris Club refund and security vote.
The source said many citizens of Anambra State have petitioned the EFCC, seeking the investigation of Obiano on allegations of mismanaging several funds belonging to the state.
Many citizens were said to have raised concerns on the borrowings of the state, adding that there were not so much infrastructure to prove for it.
Data obtained from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that as at June 30, 2021, the state’s debt stocks stood at N55,014,662,462.82 contrary to the N3,025,797,046.67 debt he met before assuming office in 2014.
Also, Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, had at several times alleged that his successor, Obiano mismanaged funds belonging to the state.
In 2015, Obi alleged that the state governor frittered away about N5 billion.
Similary, during a face-off with Obiano in the 2019 governorship election, Obi claimed he left several billions of money in the coffers of the state.
Obi said he left N2.1bn in First Bank account no. 2018779464 for Oko erosion; N4.9bn in Sure-P Diamond account 0026290200; N1.7bn in Universal Basic Education Commission 1 Diamond account 0023484282; N2.1bn in UBEC 2 Diamond account 0031151473; over N4bn in many MDG accounts one of which was the N3.048bn in Fidelity Bank 5030047097 and over N35bn cash (set aside funds added) in all the banks.
But, speaking during an interview session with the Channels Television on Thursday, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, accused EFCC of acting a script.
The commissioner said no one had invited his principal nor interrogated him, describing the allegations as surprising.
In his words: “Nobody invited him (the governor) to interrogate him or hear his side of the story. No petition was presented to him. He did not make any comments. But all of a sudden, the EFCC announced rather secretly…using the media as a third party…to announce that he is being watched. That is very surprising.
“There is absolutely no reason for that. And worse, the EFCC gave the impression that the governor wants to bolt away when he has a whole four months to remain in office.
“It is unimaginable that a governor will abandon a state a whole four months to the end of his tenure. That is surprising. It just does not make sense to anyone simply because the whole exercise is politically motivated.” Adinuba claimed.
