Court jails ex-acting accountant-general Nwabuoku for 72 years over N868m fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to 72 years imprisonment over a fraud involving N868.4 million.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice James Omotosho found Nwabuoku guilty on all nine counts of money laundering and diversion of public funds brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court held that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt, proving that the former government official collaborated with private firms to divert public funds.

According to the charge, Nwabuoku conspired with companies including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited to launder money suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The offences, the EFCC said, violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), attracting penalties under the law.

Nwabuoku was initially arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on fraud and money laundering amounting to N868.4 million. He had earlier been granted bail set at N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

The anti-graft agency told the court that the offences were committed between 2019 and 2021 while he served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence.

His attempt to halt the trial through a no-case submission was dismissed by the court in November 2025, paving the way for the final judgment.

Nwabuoku briefly served as Acting Accountant-General after his appointment on May 20, 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 amid an ongoing EFCC investigation.