Former Governor Willie Obiano, of Anambra State, has explained why he attempted to run from Nigeria on March 17, the equal day he handed over to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo, But was blocked by Security Personnel.
That improvement caused speculations that the former governor attempted to avoid being arrested and possible prosecution by means of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, which had in late 2021 located him on its watchlist.
Reports have it that Mr. Obiano, via his lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), said he was no longer fleeing Nigeria. He said he changed into alternatively hurrying to maintain a doctor’s appointment to deal with a “semi fatal situation”.
“He has no intention to run,” Mr. Ikwueto said.“He cannot run because of his family and he has work to settle with here? The reality is that he (Obiano) has a clinical condition for which he had a prior appointment to see his Specialist Doctor for remedy at Spring Creek Urology Specialists LLC, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
He has been undergoing treatment at the stated Specialist Hospital since June 2021 he also has an appointment scheduled for the final stage of Specialist Radiography for eight weeks – so one can take place right now upon his arrival at the Facility in Houston, Texas, U.S.A; and thereafter, after 4 days. Subsequent remedies are scheduled every day for a period of eight weeks.”
Mr. Ikwueto said the previous governor had for the reason that mid-year of 2021, received remedy at the U.S. Clinical facility every 3 months. the previous time he visited there was around December 2021 and became due for another spherical treatment this March, shortly as he left the office for Soludo,” the attorney said.
Mr. Ikwueto declined to disclose the precise sickness Mr. Obiano is treating, but reports have it that the former governor became diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier in the year 2021.
“Mr. Obiano turned into a completely lucky man that the sickness became acknowledged on time. It was however on early-stage whilst he was admitted last year,” stated a source familiar with the former governor’s scientific condition. He asked now not to be named due to the fact he had no permission to discuss “private and confidential matters” regarding Mr. Obiano.
Mr. Ikwueto also stated Mr. Obiano was given permission from the federal government to travel for pressing clinical remedies and that the former governor was amazed that once he has been given a warranty that he may continue on his journey, he was intercepted at the airport.
“I can tell you that the moment he heard about the media pronouncement that the EFCC placed him on their watchlist, he reached out to the authorities on the federal level to look for permission to travel for his scheduled scientific treatment,” the legal professional said. “He has promised that he will return back to the EFCC or any other agencies for any allegations which they have towards him. So it was a shocking scene that he was still ill-treated the way he was notwithstanding the assurance given by the government .”
Again, Mr. Ikwueto declined to mention who precisely Mr. Obiano contacted at the federal stage. He, again and again, evaded the question more than one time by reporters.
But after a series of homework, it was later known that he contacted the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, whom Mr. Obiano contacted. Mr. Malami reportedly advised him to continue on his travel and promised to recommend the EFCC to suspend movement on his case until he returns back from the United States.