Former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has reportedly passed away in London, United Kingdom, after battling severe heart failure and complications associated with urinary cancer, SaharaReporters has learnt.
A senior family source confirmed that the former governor’s health had deteriorated significantly in recent months before his sudden collapse.
“His health had been declining in the past months, but the final collapse came suddenly. We are devastated,” the source said.
Medical personnel in London also confirmed that Obiano had been receiving intensive care before his condition worsened irreversibly.
“He fought till the very last moment,” a hospital insider stated.
Obiano’s reported death comes months after he was scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 25, for the continuation of his trial on alleged N4 billion money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The nine-count charge was recently reassigned to Justice Mohammed Umar, following earlier proceedings before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Obiano, who governed Anambra State from March 2014 to March 2022, is accused of misappropriating state funds, including alleged diversions from the security vote account.
During a previous hearing on October 7, 2024, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) presented two witnesses, including Mr. Ugochukwu Otubelu, a former commercial bank staff who served as the third prosecution witness (PW-3).
Otubelu detailed how he managed the security vote account under Obiano’s administration, explaining that he worked closely with the account’s signatories—Willy Nwokoye, the former Principal Secretary, and Theophilus Nweze, the Accountant.
He stated that he interacted with them on a daily and weekly basis while processing transactions linked to the security vote system.
Obiano’s passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Anambra politics and comes as his trial was entering a critical phase.
