N868.4m fraud: Witnesses reveal how ex-AGF diverted ministry’s funds

The trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, commenced on Friday, January 31, 2025 before the Federal High Court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja with witnesses narrating how the defendant as former Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Defence opened multiple bank accounts through which he allegedly diverted the ministry’s funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nwabuoku on a nine-count amended charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868,465,000.

At Friday’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), presented two witnesses.

The first prosecution witness, Eucharia Ezeobi, a Zenith Bank staff, while being led in evidence disclosed that she opened four companies’ accounts – Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited – meant for contractors with the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Ezeobi said much of the funds moved from the accounts were done by cash withdrawals, a move which she said the defendant significantly benefited from.

The accounts opening packages were identified by the witness when they were shown to her by the court as prayed by defence counsel, Isidore Udenko.

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On his part, the second prosecution witness, Felix Nweke, who was the Deputy Director of Account and Expenditure under the supervision of Nwabuoku as the Director Finance and Account, Ministry of Defence, told the court that the defendant instructed him to open the four companies’ accounts and subsequently moved funds from the Federal Ministry of Defence Security Operation Account to the companies’ accounts.

He further disclosed that funds in the accounts were usually withdrawn in cash and handed over to the former AGF.

The defence counsel sought to know from the second witness if the withdrawals were initiated by the defendant alone or if there was an authority higher than him.

The witness in his response disclosed that he only took instructions from the former AGF, who was his boss in the ministry’s chain of command.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, thereafter, adjourned the matter till February 26 and March 5, 2025, for the continuation of trial.

The Star