The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed why it has yet to release the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, from his custody.
EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, gave the reason in his remarks on Monday at an event in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He spoke at the opening of the 5th Annual General Assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions In West Africa (NACIWA).
Bawa confirmed that the anti-graft agency has since granted administrative bail to the former governor.
He, however, stated that Obiano has yet to meet his bail conditions, stressing that Obiano’s arrest by the EFCC was not politically motivated.
Channels Television had reported that the EFCC placed the former governor on a watchlist in November last year, about five months to the expiration of his second term in office.
The anti-graft agency went on to ask the Nigeria Immigration Service to inform it anytime Obiano was travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.
However, the Commissioner for Information in Anambra at the time, Don Adinuba, condemned the action of the EFCC which he claimed was politically motivated.
After handing over to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, the former governor was intercepted by EFCC operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday last week.
He was said to be on his way out of the country to Houston, Texas in the United States before he was arrested and later transferred to the EFCC head office in Abuja.
A source in the EFCC told Channels Television that Obiano was arrested for misappropriating N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote funds, which were allegedly withdrawn in cash.
Part of the funds was also reportedly diverted to finance political activities in the state.