Former Accountant-General Pleads for Time to Refund looted Funds

Anamekwe Nwabuoku, a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, begged Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to finish the refund of the public funds stolen by him and his co-defendant.

Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, are facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6bn. The duo are being arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were charged for perpetrating the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Nwabuoku is the first defendant, while Nweke is the second defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho. Recall that Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGoF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80bn fraud. However, he was removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.

When the case was called on Wednesday, the defendants prayed the court to put their arraignment on hold until another date to perfect the refund. Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, notified the court that there was a new development in the case.

He informed the court that his client was making arrangements to settle the matter. He explained that Nweke had made significant refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.

“The second defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged offenses on making a refund. The commission receives the money and promises to communicate to us,” he said.

The defense counsel said upon being served with the charge, “We communicated with the commission and we were asked to tarry for their administrative procedure.”

He said since a considerable amount had been refunded if his client was arraigned, such action would affect the trial. He, therefore, asked the court to grant them an adjournment to take further steps on the administrative procedure.

Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, agreed with Onyeaka’s submission. He said his client had also taken similar steps and that a tangible amount had been refunded.

“We have written to the commission on this. The first defendant has also made some refunds. May I adopt the submission of my learner friend to tidy up the administrative procedure,” he corroborated.

In his response, counsel who appeared for the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, admitted that though the commission received the proposal letter, she said, “No negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties. In the circumstances, we urge this honorable court to allow us to arraign the defendants.”

After hearing the parties out, Justice Omotosho adjourned till October 14 for arraignment.

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