Anambra traditional rulers say the intent of leaking the video was to cause maximum embarrassment to Chief Obiano and, by extension, the people of Anambra State
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ANSTRC) on Monday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately leaking the video of former Governor Willie Obiano in its custody wearing a red boxer short and white t-shirt only to cause him and the people of the state maximum embarrassment.
This is the latest in a string of condemnations that has trailed EFCC’s conduct.
The video which was leaked on Saturday and immediately went viral has since elicited reactions, with many Nigerians denouncing it and demanding an investigation into its leakage.
A statement signed by the Chairman of ANSTRC, Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka A. Achebe, on behalf of Anambra State Traditional Rulers, said the conduct of EFCC was distasteful and shocking.
Insisting that such treatment of Chief Obiano in EFCC custody was absolutely dehumanizing, the traditional rulers asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to call the Commission to order.
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The statement titled, “Public statement on the inhuman treatment of the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, in EFCC custody,” reads in part: “The attention of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ANSTRC) has been drawn to a video clip circulating on the social media showing the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chie Willie M. Obiano, in EFCC custody wearing a red boxer short and a white t-shirt only.
“The ANSTRC and, indeed, all traditional rulers of Anambra State are utterly shocked and disappointed that someone of the status of a former state governor would be treated in such a distasteful and reprehensible manner by an agency of the Federal Government. We are equally disturbed that such a video clip found its way out of the highly secure environment of the EFCC onto the social media, obviously, with the intent of causing maximum embarrassment to Chief Obiano and, by extension, the people of Anambra State, whose Governor he was until three days ago on 17 March 2022.
“Without prejudice to the responsibility of the EFCC to carry out its statutory duties, such treatment of Chief Obiano is absolutely dehumanizing and would not bring any value to whatever investigation being conducted by the EFCC.”
The Council on behalf of all traditional rulers of Anambra State, therefore, asked President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to call the EFCC to order regarding the “appalling condition that Chief Willie Obiano is being subjected to.”
They also called on the EFCC to “treat Chief Obiano with due civility and immediately restore him to his personal comfort whilst expeditiously working to conclude its investigation.”
In the 12-second clip that has gone viral across social media platforms, Obiano, who was dressed in a short and a white shirt, was seen sipping water from a bottle in a closed room presumed to be in EFCC custody. He was also discussing with an unidentified person in the video.