Former Acting Accountant-General Nwabuoku Requests More Time for Refund in Money Laundering Case

On Wednesday, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, requested additional time from Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to finalize the refund of public funds allegedly misappropriated by him and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke.

Nwabuoku and Nweke are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 11 counts of money laundering amounting to N1.6 billion. The alleged offenses took place while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Nwabuoku, the first defendant, and Nweke, the second defendant, are charged under case number 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, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud. However, Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.

During the court session on Wednesday, the defendants requested an adjournment of their arraignment to allow them to complete the refund process. Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court of new developments, stating that his client had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the EFCC. Onyeaka explained that the commission had received the money and promised to communicate further actions.

Onyeaka argued that proceeding with the arraignment would negatively impact the ongoing refund process. Maduakolam Igwe, representing Nwabuoku, supported Onyeaka’s request, stating that his client had also made significant refunds and written to the commission.

EFCC counsel Ogechi Ujam acknowledged the receipt of a proposal letter but clarified that no negotiation, settlement, or agreement had been reached by the parties involved.

The court was asked to grant an adjournment to allow the defendants to finalize the administrative procedures related to the refunds.