Ex-Accountant-General Nwabuoku Jailed 72 Years For N868m Fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted and sentenced former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to a cumulative 72 years imprisonment over a N868.46 million money laundering case.

Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment on Monday, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved its case against the former top government official beyond reasonable doubt.

Nwabuoku was arraigned by the EFCC on nine amended counts bordering on money laundering, following allegations that he diverted public funds while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

The anti-graft agency told the court that the defendant allegedly funneled funds through multiple companies and bank accounts, converting proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to over N868 million.

During the trial, the prosecution called several witnesses and tendered documentary evidence to establish that the funds were illicitly moved through fronts, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho ruled that the evidence presented by the EFCC was credible and sufficient to secure conviction.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had dismissed a no-case submission filed by the defence, insisting that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendant to open his defence.

This position ultimately paved the way for the final judgment, culminating in Monday’s sentencing.

Court documents revealed that the funds in question were allegedly part of allocations meant for government operations, including security-related expenditures.

Prosecutors also linked the transactions to multiple companies allegedly used as conduits, through which the funds were diverted and laundered.

In a related proceeding, the EFCC had earlier sought the forfeiture of properties believed to have been acquired with proceeds of the alleged fraud, arguing that part of the diverted funds was traced to personal assets linked to the defendant.

LEADERSHIP reports that Nwabuoku briefly served as Acting Accountant-General of the Federation in May 2022, following the suspension of his predecessor, but was removed within weeks amid investigations into alleged financial misconduct.