November 24, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed the outgoing governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on its watchlist.
Sitting governors in Nigeria have immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.
Obiano’s tenure as governor, will end on March 16, 2022, when he is expected to officially hand over power to Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, winner of the November 10, Anambra State governorship election .
In a letter to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service dated November 15, 2021, the anti grant agency, requested the service to place the governor on watchlist and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit.
It is not clear why the EFCC placed the governor on security watch but sources said the move is an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating Obiano and possibly have intelligence that he plans to escape after he hands over power to his successor, Prof Charles Soludo.
THEWILL further gathered on Wednesday that Obiano is one of several governors being investigated for graft and money laundering.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he had not briefed on the development.
