By Mohammed Bello Doka
On Wednesday, July 10, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja witnessed a plea from Anamekwe Nwabuoku, a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), requesting additional time to refund public funds allegedly misappropriated by him and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke.
Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are embroiled in an 11-count charge of money laundering, amounting to N1.6 billion. The charges were brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case, marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24, was dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by Ekele Iheanacho.
The allegations trace back to the period when Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. Following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud, Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022, under the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. His tenure was short-lived, as he was removed from office in July 2022, only weeks after assuming the role.
During the court session, the defendants, through their legal representatives, sought an adjournment of their arraignment, citing ongoing efforts to finalize the refund of the embezzled funds. They argued that significant repayments had already been made, showcasing their commitment to resolving the matter amicably.
Ogechi Ujam, the counsel representing the EFCC, confirmed receiving a proposal letter from the defendants but emphasized that no formal negotiations, settlements, or agreements had been reached. "In the circumstance, we urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants," she stated.
Justice Omotosho, after considering the arguments from both sides, adjourned the case till October 14 for arraignment. This decision grants the defendants a brief reprieve as they continue their efforts to make amends for the substantial funds alleged to have been siphoned.
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