Former Acting Accountant-General Pleads for More Time to Repay Embezzled Funds.

On Wednesday, July 10, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja for additional time to reimburse public funds he and his co-defendant are accused of embezzling.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nwabuoku and Felix Nweke, his co-defendant. In the charge designated FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24, Nweke is the second defendant, while Nwabuoku is the first. They are accused of 11 counts of money laundering totaling N1.6 billion, allegedly committed between 2019 and 2021 when Nwabuoku was the Ministry of Defense's Director of Finance and Accounts.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGoF by former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 20, 2022, following Ahmed Idris' suspension as AGF due to a purported N80 billion scam. However, a few weeks after taking office, he was dismissed in July 2022.

On Wednesday, July 10, the defendants requested the court to postpone their arraignment to allow them time to complete the reimbursement. Emeka Onyeaka, Nweke's attorney, informed the court of a new development in the case, stating that his client had made efforts to reach a settlement and had returned a significant amount of the money linked to him by the anti-graft agency.

“The second defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged offences on making a refund. The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us,” he said.

After receiving the charges, the defense attorney stated, "We communicated with the commission, and we were asked to tarry for their administrative procedure.” He claimed that arraigning his client would impact the trial because a significant amount had been reimbursed. He requested an adjournment to allow them to complete the administrative process.

Nwabuoku's representative, Maduakolam Igwe, supported Onyeaka's plea. According to Igwe, his client followed the same procedures and received a sizable reimbursement.

“We have written to the commission on this. The first defendant has also made some refunds. May I adopt the submission of my learned friend to tidy up the administrative procedure?" Igwe said.

However, the EFCC's attorney, Ogechi Ujam, stated that although the commission had received a proposal letter, "no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done, and no agreement has been reached by parties."

"In the circumstances, we urge this honorable court to allow us to arraign the defendants," Ujam continued.

Judge Omotosho, after hearing all sides, postponed the arraignment until October 14.