PeakNews Online
Abuja, Nigeria – Anamekwe Nwabuoku, a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for additional time to conclude the refund of public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke.
The defendants face 11 counts of money laundering amounting to N1.6 billion, prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The alleged crimes occurred while Nwabuoku served as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. Nwabuoku, the first defendant, and Nweke, the second defendant, were charged in case FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24, dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting Accountant-General of the Federation on May 20, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud. Nwabuoku was removed from office in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming the position.
During Wednesday’s court session, the defendants requested a postponement of their arraignment to finalize the refund process. Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court of new developments, stating that his client had made substantial refunds of the traced funds to the anti-graft agency.
“The second defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission regarding the alleged offences on making a refund. The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate with us,” Onyeaka stated.
Onyeaka further explained that upon being served with the charge, they communicated with the commission, which requested them to wait for their administrative procedure. He argued that since a substantial amount had been refunded, proceeding with the arraignment would affect the trial, and therefore requested an adjournment.
Maduakolam Igwe, representing Nwabuoku, supported Onyeaka’s submission, stating that his client had also made substantial refunds. “We have written to the commission on this. The first defendant has also made some refunds. May I adopt the submission of my learned friend to tidy up the administrative procedure,” Igwe added.
However, EFCC counsel Ogechi Ujam acknowledged receiving a proposal letter but stated that no negotiation, settlement, or agreement had been reached by the parties. “In the circumstances, we urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants,” Ujam argued.
After considering the submissions, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until October 14 for arraignment.
