A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has pleaded with the Federal High Court in Abuja for time to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N1.96 billion fraud.
Nwabuoku, who is facing a nine-count charge, was initially arraigned alongside Felix Nweke, a director in the Federal Civil Service. However, Nweke was dropped as a co-defendant after agreeing to testify against Nwabuoku as a prosecution witness.
The charges, filed under FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24, accuse Nwabuoku of violating Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), which carries penalties under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Background of the Case
Nwabuoku was appointed as acting AGF in May 2022 after the suspension of Ahmed Idris, who was accused of laundering N80.2 billion. However, allegations of prior financial misconduct led to his removal just weeks later in July 2022.
During the trial, Nweke testified that Nwabuoku used four companies to divert N1.96 billion in public funds, allegedly funneling the money through bank accounts operated by a proxy, Gideon Joseph.
Nwabuoku’s Plea for Settlement
At the Wednesday hearing, Nwabuoku’s lawyer, Isidore Udenko, requested time for fresh negotiations with the EFCC, revealing that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had been engaged to facilitate discussions.
EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), confirmed that five additional witnesses were ready to testify but did not oppose the defendant’s request for a possible settlement.
“Although we have five witnesses in court and are prepared to proceed with the trial, if the defendant’s request aligns with the interests of justice, we will not oppose it,” Iheanacho stated.
Following this, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to March 13, 2025, for either a settlement update or continuation of trial.
The case highlights the EFCC’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts, as well as the increasing trend of plea bargain negotiations in high-profile fraud cases.
