*‘Official property records examined by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, and the Houston Chronicle Newspaper confirmed Willie Obiano, ex-First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Veronica as rightful owners of six apartments in Texas’
*‘As the Obianos transferred ownership of six apartments, property records show that they still own four. There is no indication that any of the U.S. properties under investigation by the Nigerian authorities directly originated from the funds allegedly misappropriated’
*Corporate Amendment Document showed that Obiano, wife moved ownership of four properties into a Texas company called Wilveg Investments Series LLC, Ebelechukwu became the registered agent for firm in November 2023, while company’s incorporation record shows that it was formed in 2010 with four managers, including Obiano, wife, and daughter
*“Four of the apartments transferred were purchased before Obiano became governor, while he was working in the private sector as a banker. Two of the transferred apartments were purchased during his time as governor. In total, the six apartments were transferred”, says district property authorities
*“Willie Obiano, former Anambra State Governor misappropriated funds from the State Government Security Vote Account”-EFCC
*BY SAMSON SHOAGA/Group Managing Editor, Austin/Texas, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA
This is surely a testy time for the banker-turned-politician former Governor of Anambra State and his wife, the ex-First Lady, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Veronica. Six of the properties him and his wife allegedly owned in the State of Texas, United States worth over $1.8million are under focus as controversy trails the real ownership of the buildings located in Houston, Texas.
This latest revelation was brought to the fore from the diligent investigations conducted by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, PPWA, and the Houston Chronicle Newspaper.
For the records, the Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has indicted Willie Obiano for allegedly misappropriating funds set aside for security. Obiano has denied all charges.
Records indicate that the former governor of Nigeria’s Anambra State and his wife allegedly shifted ownership of some of their U.S. property holdings beginning in 2022, a few months after he was arrested on suspicion of misappropriating public funds.
The case continues, and Obiano has denied charges against him, which include embezzlement and money laundering, even till date.
Willie Obiano served as governor of Anambra from 2014 to 2022, and was arrested immediately after leaving office, as he was about to board a flight from Lagos to Houston.
After his arrest, Obiano and his wife transferred ownership of six apartments in Texas, according to property records examined by OCCRP, the PPLAAF, and the Houston Chronicle Newspaper.
While they transferred ownership of six apartments, property records show that they still own four. There is no indication that any of the U.S. properties were purchased with funds that Nigerian authorities allege were misappropriated.
Four of the apartments that were transferred were purchased before Obiano became governor, while he was working in the private sector as a banker. Two of the transferred apartments were purchased during his time as governor. In total, the six apartments that were transferred are worth about $1.8 million, according to district property authorities.
The first two transfers occurred in 2022, the same year as Obiano’s arrest. He sold one apartment in Houston and his wife, Ebelechukwu, sold another in the same city.
Ebelechukwu told OCCRP via text message that the real estate deals were “private business,” and she declined to answer questions about the properties or the case against her husband.
The second set of property transfers took place in 2024, the year Obiano was charged with embezzlement and laundering 4 billion naira (approximately $4.4 million at the time) in state funds. Records show that Obiano and his wife moved ownership of four properties into a Texas company called Wilveg Investments Series LLC.
According to a corporate amendment document, Ebelechukwu became the registered agent for Wilveg Investments Series LLC in November 2023. The company’s incorporation record shows that it was formed in 2010 with four managers, including Obiano, his wife, and his daughter.
Aside from sending questions to his wife, reporters attempted to contact Obiano via phone numbers in the names of his lawyer and a spokesperson. However, there was no response to messages sent to those numbers.
Obiano is facing a nine-count indictment filed by EFCC, which accuses him of misappropriating funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account.
Security Vote Account funds “are provided to certain federal, state and local government officials to disburse at their discretion,” according to a joint 2018 report by Transparency International and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center.
While the funds “are reserved for covering unforeseen security needs,” the Security Vote Account “fuels corruption in Nigeria,” the report said.
“Security vote spending is not subject to legislative oversight or independent audit because of its ostensibly sensitive nature,” leaving the funds vulnerable to embezzlement, according to the report.
Obiano has rejected the allegations against him. His trial has stalled following the suspension of the presiding judge by Nigeria’s National Judicial Council for unrelated misconduct.
Property records show that Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu, continue to own an apartment together in Texas, which they purchased in 2011. Ebelechukwu owns two more apartments in the state, purchased in 2011 and 2024. Ebelechukwu bought another in 2014, which she transferred to her daughter the following year.
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