Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Receives 72-Year Prison Sentence for N868m Fraud
A federal high court in Abuja has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing former acting accountant-general of the federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to a total of 72 years in prison. The conviction stems from charges of fraud and money laundering involving a staggering sum of N868.4 million, marking a significant victory in Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts.
Court Finds Nwabuoku Guilty on All Counts
In a ruling on Monday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja declared that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had successfully proven its case against Nwabuoku beyond reasonable doubt. The former public official faced a nine-count amended charge, which included allegations of money laundering and the fraudulent diversion of public funds. The court convicted him on all counts, imposing a sentence of eight years' imprisonment for each count, resulting in a cumulative term of 72 years.
However, the court ordered that these sentences run concurrently, meaning Nwabuoku will serve a maximum of eight years in prison. Justice Omotosho described the offences as "appalling", emphasizing that the diverted funds were originally allocated for security and defence purposes during Nwabuoku's tenure as director of finance and accounts at the ministry of defence.
Prosecution Praised for Meticulous Work
Justice Omotosho commended the EFCC for what he termed a "meticulous prosecution", noting that the evidence presented was credible and largely unchallenged by the defence. Court testimony revealed that Nwabuoku had refunded over N200 million during the investigation, a claim that went undisputed. This restitution, however, did not mitigate the severity of the crimes.
According to court documents, Nwabuoku conspired with several companies to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The implicated entities include:
- Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited
- Turge Global Investment Limited
- Laptev Bridge Limited
- Arafura Transnational Afro Limited
The offences, committed between 2019 and 2021, violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
Background and Swift Removal from Office
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. His tenure was short-lived, as he was removed from office in July 2022, barely weeks after his appointment, amid reports that he was under investigation by the EFCC. This case underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria's public sector integrity and the relentless pursuit of justice by anti-corruption agencies.
