LAGOS MARCH 24TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting accountant-general of the federation, to 72 years imprisonment for money laundering.
Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.
He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
Nwabuoku was convicted on all nine counts and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a cumulative 72 years.
The court, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
Omotosho described Nwabuoku’s diversion of funds meant for security and defence, while serving as director of finance and accounts at the ministry of defence, as “appalling”.
The judge also commended the EFCC for what he described as a meticulous prosecution of the case.
He noted that the testimony of the ninth prosecution witness — that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million during the investigation — was not challenged by the defence.
BACKGROUND
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.
The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.
The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.
Nwabuoku was, however, removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.
Punch
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