The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra state, with money laundering.
On Wednesday, the former governor appeared before Inyang Ekwo, a judge on a federal high court in Abuja.
Obiano pleaded not guilty to the anti-graft agency’s nine-count charge against him.
During the arraignment, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir asked the court to remand the defendant in custody pending the start of the trial.
However, Obiano’s counsel, Onyinyechi Ikpeazu, requested that the court grant bail to his client.
Ekwo ruled on the applications, determining that the defendant should be granted bail on the administrative terms previously granted by the EFCC.
He added that the defendant’s international passport should be delivered to the court within 10 days.
The judge also directed the court registrar to notify the immigration service when the passport was transferred.
The case was then adjourned until March 4 to begin trial.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra requested that the anti-graft agency investigate the state’s finances to uncover “monumental deception” in September 2021.
The Anambra APC chairman, Basil Ejidike, claimed that Obiano was “fraudulently” using the state’s security vote.
