This was contained in a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated November 15, 2021. The EFCC requested the immigration to place Governor Obiano on a watchlist and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.

It is, however, not clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on a watchlist.

Sources told Channels Television that the move was an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he was planning to escape after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, on March 16, 2022.

Sitting governors in Nigeria have immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.