The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday sentenced a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to 72 years’ imprisonment for money laundering.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, held in the judgement that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.
It would be recalled that Nwabuoku was admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties in like sum, after he was arraigned on January 15 on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.
The EFCC had, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, listed Nwabuoku as the sole defendant.
Nwabuoku was convicted on all nine counts and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a cumulative 72 years, which the court ordered to run concurrently.
Justice 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, noting that the testimony of the ninth prosecution witness — that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million during the investigation — was not challenged by the defence.
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 Director of Finance and Accounts at 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.
Ruling on the no-case submission, the trial judge held that the evidence placed before the court by the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendant to warrant him entering a defence.
“The evidence of the prosecution witnesses and arguments occasioned the need for the defendant to enter his defence.
“Consequently, the no-case submission is overruled; the defendant is hereby ordered to offer an explanation to the charges filed against him,” the court had ruled.
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 an alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was, however, removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under investigation by the EFCC.
In count one of the charge filed on November 27, 2024, the EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large), and other persons (all at large), conspired to convert funds said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
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