Former Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano was on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a nine-count charge in which he was accused of laundering about N4 billion. He was, however, granted bail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

Chief Obiano who wore a navy blue suite with a black cap to match was accompanied into the court room by about 10 operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He arrived the court premises around 8:00am in an 18-seater Toyota Bus marked ABC 573 KQ amidst tight security. He was kept inside the vehicle for some minutes before he was led into the court room.

Eagle eyed anti-graft operatives sandwiched him on a roll where they sat, preventing his supporters and relatives including a traditional ruler from accessing him.

Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the court Registrar to read the charges to the defendant and asked him to make a plea.

After the taking of the defendant’s plea, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) applied that the defendant be remanded in custody pending the commencement of trial.

However, the defence counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) sought to move his client’s bail application, but Mr. Tahir said he was just served the application and needed time to respond.

Justice Ekwo inquired from the prosecuting counsel if the defendant was earlier granted bail.

Responding, Mr. Tahir confirmed that the prosecuting agency, the EFCC, had granted Obiano conditional administrative bail.

In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo admitted Chief Obiano to bail on the same conditions earlier given by the EFCC.

He ordered the EFCC to transfer all the documents relating to the bail conditions to the court within seven days.

Justice Ekwo ordered the defendant not to travel outside jurisdiction without the permission of the court, deposit his travel documents with the court, following which the court will notify the Immigration Service about the restriction on his movement outside jurisdiction.

He thereafter adjourned till 4 March for the commencement of trial.