EFCC denies that its arrest of Obiano is political saying he was treated in a routine manner

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied claims that the arrest of the immediate past Anambra State governor Wille Obiano was political saying that it was routine which is why he has been granted bail.

Governor Obiano, who is under investigation over a N42bn fraud case, has been in the EFCC custody since Thursday when he was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State. He was attempting to leave Nigeria for the US, just hours after handing over to his successor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

Over the weekend, however, pictures and videos of Governor Obiano in custody found their way into social media. Incensed by the leak, the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, (ASTRC)  describing it as an embarrassment to the people of Anambra, asking how the video got leaked in the first instance.

Professor Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and chairman of the council, said that the viral video showing Governor Obiano dressed in red boxer shorts and a white T-shirt in EFCC custody was embarrassing. He then decried what he called the inhumane treatment meted out to Governor  Obiano.

However, the EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, denied this saying the commission only acted in a routine manner. Speaking on the sideline of the fifth annual general assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, he explained that the commission was waiting for Governor Obiano to perfect his bail conditions.

Mr Bawa said: “There is nothing political about the arrest of the former Anambra State governor, Wille Obiano. He has been granted bail and there is nothing political about the investigation.

"You know what the EFCC stands for. We investigate crimes, we look at people that have committed crimes and we link it up together and then we go to court. That is all we have been doing and that is what we will continue to do.

“We have been accused of media trial. However, we will continue to do our investigations professionally."

Over the weekend, the ASTRC called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the attorney-general Abubakar Malami, to call the EFCC to order, regarding the appalling condition Governor Obiano was being subjected to. They further urged that the EFCC should immediately restore Governor Obiano to his personal comforts, while expeditiously working to conclude its investigation.

Professor Achebe said: “The traditional rulers are utterly shocked and disappointed that someone of the status of a former state governor would be treated in such a distasteful and reprehensible manner by an agency of the federal government. We are equally disturbed that such a video clip found its way out of the highly secure environment of the EFCC onto the social media, obviously, with the intent of causing maximum embarrassment to Obiano and by extension, the people of Anambra.”