The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Monday fixed April 13 for judgment in the N868 million money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former acting accountant-general of the federation (AGoF), Chukwunyere Nwabuoku.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), and the ex-AGoF’s counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN), adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case.
Mr Nwabuoku was admitted to a N500 million bail with two sureties in the like sum after he was arraigned on January 15, 2025, on a nine-count amended charge.
The EFCC listed Mr Nwabuoku as the sole defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024.
In count one of the charge filed on November 27, 2024, the EFCC alleged that Mr Nwabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large), and other persons (all at large), conspired to convert funds.
The funds were said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Mr Nwabuoku was alleged to have perpetrated the act while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
He was later appointed acting AGoF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGoF over alleged N80 billion fraud.
Mr Nwabuoku, however, was removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.
Sylva Okolieaboh, a director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, replaced Mr Nwabuoku as acting AGoF.
Mr Okolieaboh’s appointment followed a report that Mr Nwabuoku was under the EFCC’s radar over corruption allegations.
On January 31, 2025, the first prosecution witness (PW-1), Eucharia Ezeodi, a Zenith Bank Plc staff member and a director in the federal civil service, and PW-2, Felix Nweke, a director in the federal civil service, gave their testimonies against the defendant.
The anti-graft agency, however, closed its case after calling nine witnesses to establish its case against Mr Nwabuoku.
Mr Omotosho had, on November 13, 2025, dismissed Mr Nwabuoku’s no-case submission, which he opted for after the prosecution closed its case.
Mr Omotosho, in a ruling, held that a prima facie case had been made out against Mr Nwabuoku by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to warrant him to enter his defence.
The judge held that the prosecution’s evidence provided sufficient grounds for proceeding with the trial.
He said that, in view of all the exhibits and the prosecution’s evidence, the defendant needed to provide some explanations in this regard.
According to the judge, this is not to say that the defendant is guilty as charged, but simply that they be afforded their right to a fair hearing and put in their defence before this court.
Mr Nwabuoku, who opened his defence on February 2, 2026, prayed the court to acquit and discharge him of the alleged N868.46 million fraud case preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Quakers, the former AGoF denied being a signatory to some companies allegedly linked to him.
Mr Nwabuoku had, in February 2025, opted for a plea bargain but later changed his mind.
The ex-AGoF was earlier arraigned with Felix Nweke, who worked under him in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Both defendants, on October 14, 2024, equally opted for a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC, which was eventually not carried through.
The commission, subsequently, amended the charge and listed Mr Nwabuoku as the sole defendant, with Mr Nweke as one of its witnesses.
(NAN)
