General
Obiano Pleads Not Guilty, Granted Bail in N4bn Fraud Case
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Willie Obiano, with money laundering offences involving an allegation of stealing over N4 billion from the state’s security vote account.
However, he denied the charges contained in nine counts during his arraignment before the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The judge granted him bail, ordering him not to leave the country unless with the express permission of the court throughout his trial and fixed March 4 for the commencement of trial.
Mr Obiano, who was governor from March 2014 to March 2022, allegedly diverted the money from the state’s account dedicated to security funds in his last five years in office.
He was accused of directing the diversion of the total N4,006,573,350 from the state’s account between April 2017 and March 2022, and spent the money for “purposes unrelated/unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State”.
The funds, according to EFCC, were diverted through companies “that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government,” converted to Dollars and handed over to the former governor in cash.
The former governor allegedly stole the money over five years by instructing his Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Uzuegbuna Okagbue, to transfer on various occasions various sums of money from the state government’s security vote account with Fidelity Bank into the account of the various companies.
The case, filed through EFCC’s lead prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on January 15, detailed the nine companies allegedly used to divert the funds from the state government’s security vote account.
Each of the nine counts disclosed the amount a company received and the period it received it from the state government’s account.
The EFCC alleged in Count 1 that, from February 16, 2018, to March 9, 2018, an aggregate sum of N223,371,000 was paid from the security vote account into the account of Connought International Services Limited.
Count 2 alleged that from October 30, 2018, to November 13, 2018, a total sum of N95 million was paid from the security vote account into the bank account of S.Y. Panda Enterprises.
In Count 3, EFCC alleged from April 11, 2017, to June 21, 2019, a total of N416,000,000 was diverted from the security vote account into the account of Zirga Zirga Trading Company Limited.
In Count 4, the anti-corruption agency alleged that from February 13, 2018, to March 2, 2022, a total of N1,206,760,310 was paid into the account of Moment of Peace Ventures.
The commission similarly alleged in Count 5 that from April 5, 2018, to May 28, 2019, an aggregate sum of N860,716,200 was paid into the account of Youdooh Ventures.
Also in Count 6, EFCC alleged that from January 28, 2020, to January 15, 2021, a total sum of N659,112,900 was paid to Nazdal Ventures.
The commission alleged in Count 7 that from February 7 2018 to February 18, 2019, C.I Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited received a total sum of N156,800,000.
In Count 8, the anti-graft agency alleged that from August 9, 2017, to March 4, 2020, Easy Diamond Integrated Link received a total of N261,268,585 from the state’s security vote account.
In Count 9, the agency alleged that from October 16, 2017, to January 3, 2018, a total sum of N127,544,355 was paid from the security vote account of Anambara State Government into the account of Xpress Consult Nig. Limited.
EFCC alleged that the funds, much of which were converted to dollars and handed over to Mr Obiano in cash “were dissipated for purposes unrelated/unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State.”
The counts detailed how the money was paid in tranches over time from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account domiciled at Fidelity Bank into the accounts of nine companies allegedly used for the diversion.
Much of the funds they paid into the bank accounts of the companies were converted into dollars and handed over to the former governor.
It was reported that hours after Mr Obiano handed over as Anambra State Governor on 17 March 2022, EFCC had arrested him at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) has reaffirmed its determination to bridge the gap between education and employability in the country by sustaining its flagship Youth Empowered (YE) programme.
This initiative provides hands-on learning, real-world insights, and access to career-shaping opportunities to young Nigerians.
The 2026 edition of the scheme commenced on February 2 at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), with participants mainly young people between the ages of 16 and 35.
A statement from the organisation said this year’s rollout will expand to more tertiary institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). This follows a successful 2025 tour that reached seven cities across the country, including Makurdi, Jos, Benin, Kaduna, Asaba, Akure, and Port Harcourt.
Participants in the 2026 programme will receive training across key modules designed to support personal, professional, and business growth, including Business Life Skills, Adaptability and Resilience, Financial Literacy, Customer Service and Communication, Sales and Negotiation Skills, and Workplace Ethics.
The sessions will also feature breakout workshops on Business Planning, Project Management, and Time Management, alongside the Director’s Grant Pitch Competition, where participants can pitch their ideas for a chance to win business funding.
In addition to skills development, NBC’s People and Culture team will be present throughout the programme to identify outstanding talent for future opportunities within the organisation, further strengthening the connection between learning, employment, and long-term career growth.
One of the participants at the UNILAG training, Waliat Adedogun, who received a cash grant through the Director’s Grant Pitch Competition to support her small business, said: “Youth Empowered gave me more than training; it gave me clarity and confidence. Winning the grant means I can finally take my business idea from a dream into something real. I now feel prepared to build, grow, and create opportunities not just for myself, but for others too.”
Since its launch in 2017, the scheme has impacted more than 70,000 young Nigerians, equipping participants with practical skills, confidence, and exposure needed to succeed in today’s dynamic workplace and entrepreneurial landscape.
This year’s programme is being delivered in collaboration with Fate Foundation as the implementing partner, with funding support from The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation.
Last year, 10 beneficiaries were selected for six-month paid internships across NBC locations in Lagos, Ibadan, Asejire, and Challawa, gaining direct industry exposure.
Additionally, three outstanding participants received sponsorship for an all-expenses-paid intensive culinary training programme and were awarded N1 million each to support the launch of their businesses.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 20, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed.
In a notice for the 2027 general polls issued on Friday, the electoral umpire also disclosed that the governorship and state assembly elections for next year would be on Saturday, March 6.
Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja today, the chairman of INEC, Mr Joash Amupitan, expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct the polls next year, which is 12 months away.
The timetable issued by the organisation for the polls comes when the federal parliament has yet to transmit the amended electoral bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
This week, the Senate passed the electoral bill, reducing the notice of elections from 360 days to 180 days, while the transmission of results was mandated with a proviso.
Recall that on February 4, INEC said it was ready to go ahead with preparations for the elections despite the delay in the passage of the amended electoral law of 2022.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The pipeline network of the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) will witness a temporary reduction in gas supply for four days.
This information was revealed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Andy Odeh, in a statement on Thursday night.
A key supplier of gas into the NGIC pipeline network is Seplat Energy Plc, a joint venture partner of the state-owned oil agency.
It was disclosed that the facility would undergo routine maintenance from Thursday. February 12 to Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The NNPC stated that, “This planned activity forms part of standard industry safety and asset integrity protocols designed to ensure the continued reliability, efficiency, and safe operation of critical gas infrastructure.”
“Periodic maintenance of this nature is essential to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and minimise the risk of unplanned outages,” it added.
“During the four-day maintenance period, there will be a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network. As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe.
“NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy are working closely to ensure that the maintenance is executed safely and completed as scheduled. In parallel, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) is engaging alternative gas suppliers to mitigate anticipated supply gaps and maintain stability across the network,” the statement further said.
“Upon completion of the maintenance exercise, full gas supply into the NGIC system is expected to resume promptly, enabling affected power generation companies to return to normal operations,” it concluded.
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