Court jails ex-AGF Nwabuoku for 72 years over N868m fraud
A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting accountant-general of the federation, to a total of 72 years in prison for money laundering.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved its case against the defendant.
Nwabuoku was tried on an amended nine-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud involving N868.4 million. Although he was earlier granted bail of N500 million with two sureties, the court found him guilty on all counts.
He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment on each of the nine counts, amounting to 72 years. However, the court directed that the sentences run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho described the diversion of funds meant for security and defence during Nwabuoku’s tenure as director of finance and accounts at the ministry of defence as “appalling”. He also commended the EFCC for what he termed a thorough and meticulous prosecution.
The court noted that evidence presented by the ninth prosecution witness, which showed that the defendant refunded over N200 million during the investigation, was not disputed by the defence.
Background
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the EFCC accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several firms, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to launder funds suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities.
The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and are punishable under the law.
The commission stated that the offences were committed between 2019 and 2021 while Nwabuoku served as director of finance and accounts at the ministry of defence.
His no-case submission was dismissed by the court in November 2025.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general in May 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud. He was, however, removed from office in July 2022 after reports emerged that he was under EFCC investigation.
