Crime
Obiano Trial: I Had No Knowledge of ₦860m In My Company’s Account – Witness
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was unaware of N860 million deposited into his company’s bank account by the Anambra State Government.
The witness, Udochukwu Okparache, a general contractor and owner of Youdooh Ventures Limited, made this revelation while testifying before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), Okparache stated that he only became aware of the transactions when he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2023.
READ MORE: Fraud: Witness Claims N416m Was Channeled In Proxy Dealings Under Ex-Gov Obiano
“Sometimes in April 2023, I was called by the EFCC to come and give clarification in respect of Youdooh Ventures bank account, which I opened in Awka. When I got there, they showed me the transactions I had done with the Anambra State government but couldn’t understand the transaction that was there,” Okparache said.
Upon inquiry, his account officer allegedly told him that the inflows were meant to boost his account status to enable him to meet requirements for traveling abroad.
“Immediately, I called my account officer, who told me that he was boosting my account. The inflows were made through the Manager’s cheques, and the outflows were done by individuals.
“The transactions that were done in that account were through Manager’s cheques, which was about N60 million, but N860 million was the total amount that passed through my account, which Cherish Ventures Limited, Chief Mrs. Eberechi Willie Obiano, Easy Demands Limited, and so many other companies benefited from. I did not bid for any contract with the Anambra State government,” he stated.
An analysis of his account statements, marked as exhibit PW3 A1-A5, confirmed that the funds were transferred in tranches, including payments of N18 million and N9 million on April 5, 2018.
Another payment was made on April 11, 2018, while N7 million was transferred to the wife of the former governor.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Okparache admitted that he did not report the transactions to the bank, explaining that he wanted his account to be boosted.
However, he denied knowing Obiano personally or being aware of who authorized the payments.
After hearing his testimony, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to May 26, 27, and 28, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Obiano is currently facing a nine-count charge related to money laundering, diversion of public funds, and corruption, amounting to N4 billion.
Two men have been arrested by the police in Aba, Abia State, for allegedly vandalizing iron materials at the long-abandoned Aba Textile Mills, situated in the Eziama Industrial Estate.
The suspects, identified as Mr. Ndubuisi Okoronkwo and Mr. Innocent Mbam, were reportedly caught red-handed while cutting and dismantling iron rods from the roofing framework of the facility’s old structures.
Their arrest came after local security operatives, acting on suspicion, tipped off government authorities and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), leading to swift action by the police.
READ ALSO: Otti Commends NDDC, Charges Team Abia To Dominate NDSF
During interrogation, both men allegedly confessed that they had been hired by one of the managers overseeing the textile mill, who authorized them to carry out the removal of the materials.
Meanwhile, business owners around the area claimed the illegal removal of materials from the premises has been ongoing unnoticed for quite some time.
“We’ve had our suspicions. The textile mill has been shut since 2000, yet trucks keep going in and out of the premises,” a concerned business owner said.
“Only the managers and their security personnel have access to the facility. So we alerted local security, and that’s how the arrests were made.”
When reached for comment, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, acknowledged the inquiry but had yet to issue an official response at the time of filing this report.
Three suspects have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command in connection with the hijacking of a truck loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road.
The confirmation was made on Sunday through a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan.
He revealed that the stolen consignment belonged to NIPCO Petroleum Nigeria Limited.
READ MORE: Shun Protest, Report Suspicious Activities – Police To Ondo Residents
Osifeso explained that the police became aware of the incident in the early hours of April 5, 2025, following credible intelligence.
“On April 5, 2025, at approximately 1:00 am, the command’s Monitoring Unit received actionable intelligence regarding a hijacking incident involving a DAF truck with registration number Adamawa YLA 575 ZY on the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan road,” he stated.
He further revealed that initial findings pointed to the involvement of an armed gang, describing them as “an armed group equipped with sophisticated firearms.”
In response, operatives from the Monitoring Unit were swiftly deployed to track the perpetrators.
Their investigation led them to a filling station at Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the hijacked vehicle was located.
“Their efforts led to the discovery of the hijacked truck at the Lincoln Filling Station, Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the suspects were in the process of syphoning the PMS,” Osifeso said.
Two suspects — Oyekunle Olaoluwa, 35, and another identified as Akanji Ladele, 51 (real name undisclosed) — were arrested at the filling station.
During questioning, the suspects named one “Femi” as the individual who handed the truck over to them, and who is believed to have coordinated the hijack.
“This revelation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of Basiru Azeez, 30, a pivotal figure in the operation who has since confessed to his role in orchestrating the hijacking and provided details on how the truck was diverted after the crime,” the statement added.
The police have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend more members of the criminal network behind the incident.
Meanwhile, Osifeso called on members of the public to assist security efforts by promptly reporting any suspicious activity.
“The PPRO, therefore, charged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the local police, emphasising that active participation is vital to the command’s collective effort in fighting against crime,” the statement concluded.
A N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government has been struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter on Thursday, ruled that the suit was no longer sustainable due to “lack of diligent prosecution.”
The decision came after neither Kanu nor representatives of the Federal Government appeared in court for the hearing.
READ MORE: Court Reassigns Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial To New Judge
This was not the first time the case had been stalled. According to the judge, “the case had taken three adjournments due to no representation.”
At the last sitting, only counsel for the Federal Government was present, while Kanu’s legal team was absent.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, was originally filed on April 7, 2022, by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on behalf of Kanu. In the suit, the IPOB leader accused the government of violating his fundamental rights, claiming he was abducted from Kenya and forcibly returned to Nigeria to face trial.
Kanu urged the court to determine “whether the way and manner in which he was abducted in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws.”
He cited legal provisions such as “Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” and “Article/Part 5(a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa.”
Kanu also sought the court’s view on whether, under “Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” he could be lawfully tried on a 15-count amended charge when the offences allegedly do not match those for which he was renditioned.
In total, he requested 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody, and a restraint against further prosecution in the criminal matter with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, currently before Justice Binta Nyako. He also asked for “the sum of N100 million as the cost of this action.”
However, the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants, filed a preliminary objection. In the notice dated June 6 but filed June 27, 2022, they argued that the case was “an abuse of court process.”
They pointed out that Kanu had filed a similar suit with identical facts at the Federal High Court in Umuahia (FHC/UM/CS/30/2022), involving the same parties. As such, they contended, the Abuja court lacked jurisdiction to entertain a duplicate case.
Adding to the confusion in legal representation, Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, informed the court during an earlier proceeding that he had filed a notice to take over the case from Ozekhome.
Rivers Women Stage Solidarity March In Support Of Emergency Rule
Data Protection Act Amendments: SERAP Threatens Legal Action Against National Assembly Leadership
2027: Okpebholo Banks On Edo, Delta States To Swing Tinubu’s Reelection
Police Arrest Two For Alleged Vandalism At Defunct Aba Textile Mills
Oyo Police Arrest Three Over Hijacking Of Petrol-Laden Truck
