The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed that the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has not been released from detention.
Obiano was arrested by the EFCC on Thursday night hours after his handover to the new Anambra governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
However, reports emerged on Friday morning that Obiano had been released from the EFCC custody.
But speaking to the press via a telephone call, the EFCC PRO stated that the reports were false and that the ex-governor was still with the commission.
“He’s still with the commission. He was even transferred from Lagos to Abuja this morning,” Uwujaren said.
Uwujaren, however, did not state whether the ex-governor was arrested alongside his wife, Ebelechukwu.
It was earlier reported that EFCC operatives picked up Obiano at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 08:30pm.
The ex-governor, who had been on the watch list of the EFCC since November 15, 2021, was arrested while trying to board a flight to the United States.
It was learnt that Obiano was arrested for allegedly mismanaging over ₦17bn Paris Club refund and the state’s security vote.
He is also being probed over some suspicious projects, including the Umueri International Airport project whose cost is believed to be inflated.