N1.6bn fraud: Please give me time to return looted funds, ex-AGF begs court

The former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has begged a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly siphoned.

Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, in the 11-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the EFCC, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, prayed Justice James Omotosho to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.

The former AGF and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are being prosecuted for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.

While Nwabuoku is the 1st defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed May 27 by Ekele Iheanacho, Nweke is the 2nd defendant.

They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.

He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.

FG appoints Nwabuoku as acting AGF

A Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, Sylva Okolieaboh, replaced Nwabuoku as acting AGF.

Okolieaboh’s appointment followed a report that Nwabuoku was under the radar of EFCC over corruption allegations.

When the matter was called on Wednesday for the defendants to take their plea, Nwabuoku and Nweke stepped into the dock.

However, Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case.

Onyeaka notified the court that his client had taken steps toward settling the matter.

The lawyer said Nweke had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the EFCC.

He said: “The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us.

“Upon being served with the charge on Monday, we communicated with the commission and we are asked to tarry for their administrative procedure.”

Onyeaka told the court that since a substantial amount had been refunded if his client is arraigned, such action would affect the trial.

He, therefore, prayed the court to grant them an adjournment in order to take further steps on the administrative procedure.

Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, aligned with Onyeaka’s submission.

Igwe said his client had equally taken the same steps and that a substantial amount had been refunded.

Responding, EFCC counsel Ogechi Ujam acknowledged that though the commission was in receipt of a proposal letter, “however, no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties.”

Ujam added: “We urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants.”

“Take a date for arraignment,” Justice Omotosho responded.

After the lawyer agreed, the matter was adjourned until October 14, 2024, for arraignment.

The Star