Nigerian Politician Laz Anyanwu Jailed For Stealing N180Million From Imo State

Nigerian Politician Laz Anyanwu Jailed For Stealing N180Million From Imo State Government

Former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, Laz Anyanwu, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment on charges of fraud, looting of public funds, and stealing. The sentence was handed down by Judge K.A. Lewanya after Anyanwu was found guilty of diverting N180 million of state funds into a private company account where he was a major shareholder and sole signatory.

Anyanwu served during the administration of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha. The judge held that Anyanwu violated the Public Procurement Act and abused his office to gain undue advantage in his dealings during his tenure as the commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo state transport company, ITC.

During his tenure as the commissioner for transport between 2015 and 2019, Anyanwu transferred the sum of N100 million from the ITC account to his private company named Oma Oil Industries Limited, which is against section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020 for a public servant. He also signed off another N80 million from government coffers directly to his private company account, claiming that he wanted to procure some vehicles for ITC without due process and recourse to the public procurement act.

The EFCC lawyer, Michael Ani, was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Anyanwu had engaged in these corrupt practices, and the judge sentenced him to three years in prison. The jail term will serve concurrently.

Anyanwu’s actions not only violated the law but also deprived the people of Imo State of funds that were meant for public use. Corruption has been a major problem in Nigeria, with public officials often enriching themselves at the expense of the people they are supposed to serve. This case serves as a reminder that corrupt officials will be held accountable for their actions.

The conviction and sentencing of Anyanwu is a victory for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. It shows that the law will catch up with corrupt officials, and that justice will be served. It is hoped that this will serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in corrupt practices, and that it will help to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in the country.