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Ex-Anambra Governor Obiano, Wife Transferred U.S. Properties To Texas Firm After 2022 Arrest For Alleged ₦4Billion Embezzlement –Report

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Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has indicted Obiano for allegedly misusing security funds, though he has denied all charges. The case remains ongoing, with accusations of embezzlement and money laundering still under investigation.

Former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu, began transferring ownership of several U.S. properties in 2022, just months after his arrest on allegations of misappropriating public funds, according to a report by OCCRP.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has indicted Obiano for allegedly misusing security funds, though he has denied all charges. The case remains ongoing, with accusations of embezzlement and money laundering still under investigation.

Obiano, who governed Anambra from 2014 to 2022, was arrested at Lagos airport while preparing to board a flight to Houston. Shortly after, he and his wife transferred ownership of six apartments in Texas, as revealed by property records examined by OCCRP, the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), and the Houston Chronicle.

Despite these transfers, records indicate the couple still retains ownership of four other U.S. properties. There is no evidence suggesting that the funds used to purchase these assets were misappropriated.

Of the six transferred apartments—valued at approximately $1.8 million—four were acquired before Obiano assumed office while working as a banker. The remaining two were purchased during his tenure as governor.

The first two transfers occurred in 2022, the year of Obiano’s arrest, with one Houston apartment sold by him and another by his wife.

When contacted by OCCRP, Ebelechukwu characterized the transactions as “private business” and declined to comment further on the properties or the case against her husband.

In 2024, the year Willie Obiano was charged with embezzlement and laundering 4 billion naira (approximately $4.4 million at the time) in state funds, he and his wife transferred ownership of four properties to a Texas-based company, Wilveg Investments Series LLC, according to property records.

Corporate amendment documents reveal that in November 2023, Ebelechukwu Obiano became the registered agent for Wilveg Investments Series LLC. Records indicate that the company was established in 2010, with its management comprising Obiano, his wife, his daughter, and one other individual.

Reporters attempted to reach Obiano through phone numbers linked to his lawyer and a spokesperson but received no response to inquiries.

The former governor faces a nine-count indictment filed by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing him of misappropriating funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account. Obiano has denied the allegations, and the case remains ongoing.

According to a joint 2018 report by Transparency International and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, funds in the Security Vote Account “are provided to certain federal, state and local government officials to disburse at their discretion.”

According to the report, while the funds “are reserved for covering unforeseen security needs,” the Security Vote Account “fuels corruption in Nigeria.”

The report highlights that security vote expenditures are exempt from legislative oversight and independent audits due to their classified nature, making them susceptible to mismanagement and embezzlement.

Obiano has denied the allegations against him, but his trial has been delayed due to the suspension of the presiding judge by Nigeria’s National Judicial Council over unrelated misconduct.

Property records indicate that Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu, still jointly own an apartment in Texas, acquired in 2011.

Additionally, Ebelechukwu owns two more apartments in the state, purchased in 2011 and 2024. In 2014, she bought another property, which she transferred to her daughter the following year.

 

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Don’t let Ganduje’s exit divide APC – Dalori tells NWC members, others

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Acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Dalori, has appealed to members of the National Working Committee, NWC, and others not to allow the resignation of the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to cause disunity in the party.

This is even as he charged them to be mindful of their words and actions in the wake of Ganduje’s exit.

Dalori revealed that in the days ahead, he would share with them a practical roadmap to guide the NWC during this interim period.

“To all party members and stakeholders, I urge us to stay united. Political transitions often create uncertainty, but we must not allow it to breed disunity.

“We must avoid actions and words that divide us and focus on what binds us — our shared belief in the promise of Nigeria and the future of the APC.

“It will cover key areas such as party discipline, reconciliation, communication, member mobilisation, and broader stakeholder engagement,” he said.

The acting national chairman further said that he assumed his new position in line with the constitution of the party and the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

He wished Ganduje a speedy recovery, thanking him for his contributions to the upliftment of the APC.

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Gov Yusuf immortalizes Kano athletes killed in auto-crash

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Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has immortalized 22 Kano athletes who lost their lives in a road accident while returning from the National Sports Festival in May 2025.

Yusuf made the announcement during a ceremony held at the Government House in Kano.

He said the Kano State Sports Institute will now be known as the ‘Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Institute’.

In addition, the governor said that the Kano State Sports Commission will bear the name, ‘Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Commission’, in honour of the late sportsmen and women.

“These young heroes made Kano proud. They should be remembered forever. Their commitment and sacrifice to the state will not be forgotten,” the governor said.

The governor made the announcement during a courtesy visit by representatives of the First Lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu, who donated N110 million to the bereaved families.

He appreciated the First Lady for the donation to the families, whom he said were going through unimaginable grief.

“We are grateful to Her Excellency, the First Lady, for this generous support. These families are going through unimaginable grief, and this act of kindness provides not only relief but also recognition,” the governor added.

Yusuf pledged the Kano government’s continued support for the families of the deceased.

DAILY POST reports that tragic incident, which occurred just five kilometres away from Kano, shocked the nation and plunged the sports community into mourning.

Recall that the athletes were returning home after representing Kano at the National Sports Festival, where they had reportedly delivered outstanding performances.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, reiterated that the fallen athletes were heroes who fought for the success of Kano State and deserve to be immortalised for their patriotism and excellence.

According to the statement, the renaming of the two key sports institutions would stand as a permanent symbol of honour, reminding future generations of the sacrifices made by those who wore the state’s colours with pride.

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Mass Exodus Looms: Thousands of APC Members in Adamawa Prepare to Defect to ADC Coalition

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By Emmanuel Kwada

In a significant political development, a group of prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Adamawa State convened a strategic meeting in Yola to discuss defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and forming a new coalition to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The meeting, held at the residence of Engr. Omar Suleiman, a former Nigerian Ports Authority official and ex-Ambassador to Sudan, signals a potential shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition includes loyalists of high-profile figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Murtala Nyako, former Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, and Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo.

The group aims to position the ADC as a formidable force to unseat the PDP, which has maintained control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri

These APC stalwarts expressed frustration with internal party dynamics, citing a lack of reward systems and vested interests as key reasons for their dissatisfaction. The group aims to position the ADC as a formidable force to unseat the PDP, which has maintained control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Engr. Omar Suleiman, a long-time APC member who unsuccessfully contested for the Adamawa Central senatorial seat in 2015 and 2019, hosted the meeting. Sources revealed that discussions centered on a strategic plan to take over Adamawa State, leveraging the ADC as a new political platform.

Gov Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

 

Another key figure, Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, a former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government and senatorial aspirant, addressed the coalition, emphasizing that the ADC has been adopted at the national level as a party for all registered and loyal members. Bindir vowed to work collaboratively to dislodge the PDP, criticizing the APC for its failure to reward loyalty.

Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Dasin, a former state and federal lawmaker and active APC member, also attended the meeting, calling for unity among the coalition to achieve their shared goal. “We must come together with a clear purpose to bring change to Adamawa,” Dasin urged, highlighting the need for a cohesive strategy to challenge the PDP’s dominance.

We must come together with a clear purpose to bring change to Adamawa

The meeting underscores ongoing internal crises within the Adamawa APC, with prominent members like Nyako, Bindow, Binani, and Abbo previously boycotting a reconciliation meeting organized by the party’s national leadership in December 2024.

The ADC coalition’s emergence could further weaken the APC’s position in the state, especially following the expulsion of Senator Abbo and other internal disputes that have plagued the party. In

The Adamawa State ADC leadership has yet to issue an official statement, but the coalition’s activities are expected to intensify in the coming months as they work to expand their base and finalize their strategy.

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