The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday 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), Mr. 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.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwabuoku was admitted to a N500-million bail with two sureties in like sum after he was arraigned on January 15, last year, on a nine-count amended charge.
The EFCC had listed Nwabuoku as the sole defendant in the case.
In count one of the charge filed on November 27, 2024, the EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert funds said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency said the offence is contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended by Act Number 1 of 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Nwabuoku was alleged to have perpetrated the act while he served 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.
Nwabuoku was removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.
A Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, Sylva Okolieaboh, replaced Nwabuoku as acting AGoF.
Okolieaboh’s appointment followed a report that Nwabuoku was under the radar of EFCC over corruption allegations.
On January 31, last year, the first prosecution witness (PW-1), Eucharia Ezeodi, a Zenith Bank Plc staff member, and a director with the federal civil service, Felix Nweke (PW-2), gave their testimonies against the defendant.
The anti-graft agency closed its case after calling nine witnesses to establish its case against Nwabuoku.
Justice Omotosho had, on November 13, last year, dismissed Nwabuoku’s no-case submission, which he opted for after the prosecution closed its case.
In a ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that a prima facie case had been made out against Nwabuoku by the EFCC to warrant him to enter his defence.
The judge held that the evidence of the prosecution had founded sufficient ground for proceeding with the trial.
He averred that in view of all the exhibits and the evidence of the prosecution, the defendant needed to give some explanations in these regards.
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.
Nwabuoku, who opened his defence on February 2, 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, Quakers, the former AGoF denied being a signatory to some companies allegedly linked to him.
NAN recalls that Nwabuoku had, in February last year, opted for a plea bargain before he 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 Nwabuoku as the sole defendant, with Nweke as one of its witnesses.
Source: The Nation News