Chief Willie Obiano, former Governor of Anambra State, has reportedly passed away in London, United Kingdom, after a protracted battle with severe heart failure and complications related to urinary cancer.
A senior family insider told SaharaReporters, “His health had been declining over the past few months, but the final collapse came suddenly. We are devastated.”
Medical officials confirmed that Obiano was receiving intensive care before his condition deteriorated. A hospital source noted, “He fought till the very last moment.”
Obiano governed Anambra State from March 2014 until March 2022. In July 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled his trial for November 25 on charges of alleged money laundering involving over N4 billion. The nine-count charge, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was recently reassigned to Justice Mohammed Umar.
During hearings in October, EFCC’s lead counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, presented testimonies from witnesses, including a former bank staff, Ugochukwu Otubelu. Otubelu, who managed the security vote account during Obiano’s administration, testified about the financial procedures and signatories involved.
The tragic passing of Chief Obiano marks the end of a significant chapter in Anambra State’s political history. Further updates on funeral arrangements and official statements from his family and political associates are awaited.
