By Ghazali Ibrahim
Chief Willie Mmadụabụrochukwu Obiano, the former Governor of Anambra State, has passed away in London after a prolonged battle with illness, on Friday, November 14, 2025, BlackBox Nigeria has learnt.
He was 70 years old.
According to family sources and hospital insiders, Obiano succumbed to severe heart failure and complications arising from urinary cancer while receiving intensive care in the UK.
He had been under medical supervision for several months, although the final deterioration came suddenly.
Obiano served as the 4th Governor of Anambra State from March 17, 2014, to March 17, 2022. He succeeded Peter Obi and was later succeeded by Charles Soludo.
Before his tenure in politics, Obiano had a distinguished banking career after graduating from the University of Lagos with a degree in Accountancy.
At the time of his passing, he was facing legal proceedings in Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged him with alleged N4 billion money‑laundering across nine counts, with a trial set to resume on November 25, 2025.
