Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano has revealed why he was in a rush to leave the country after handing over to Charles Soludo.
Daily Report Nigeria can recall that Obiano was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Lagos International Airport, while trying to jet out to his base in the United State.
He was arrested on March 17, and was only released after spending five days in the custody of the EFCC.
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Speaking with Premiumtimes, Obiano’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), said Obian was in a hurry to meet up with a doctor’s appointment to treat a “semi fatal condition”.
“He was not running away. Why will he run away when his family is here and he has a lot to do here? The fact is that he (Obiano) has a medical condition for which he had a prior appointment to see his Specialist Doctor for treatment at Spring Creek Urology Specialists LLC, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
“By the nature of his ailment, he has been undergoing treatment at the said Specialist Hospital since June 2021 and had an appointment earlier scheduled for the final stage of Specialist Radiography for eight (8) weeks – which will take place immediately upon his arrival at the Facility in Houston, Texas, U.S.A; and thereafter, after four days. Subsequent treatments are scheduled every day for a period of eight (8) weeks.”
According to Mr Ikwueto, Obiano had been receiving treatment in the United States since mid 2021, once in every three months.
He however, refused to reveal the true nature of the former governor’s ailment.
“The last time he was there was December 2021 and became due for another round of treatment this March shortly before he handed over to Soludo,” the lawyer said.
“He (Obiano) was lucky that the disease was detected on time. It was still at an early stage when he was diagnosed last year,” said a source familiar with the former governor’s medical condition. He asked not to be named because he had no permission to discuss “private and confidential matters” concerning Mr Obiano.
Okweto said his client was earlier granted permission by the federal authorities to travel for medical attention and was surprised on being arrested after he was told he could travel for his treatment.
“I can tell you that after the media reported that the EFCC placed him on its watchlist, he reached out to authorities at the federal level to seek permission to travel for his scheduled medical treatment.
“He also promised that he would thereafter return to face any probe the EFCC or any other agency had against him. So it was shocking that he was still treated the way he was despite the assurance he was given,” he said.
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