A former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Anamekwe Nwabuoku, facing trial for an alleged N1.96 billion fraud, has requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to allow him time to negotiate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nwabuoku, who is charged with nine counts, made the request on Wednesday after the EFCC informed the court that it had brought in five additional witnesses to testify in the case. Although Nwabuoku was represented by his lawyer, Mr. Isidore Udenko, he personally told the court that he had hired a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to help facilitate an out-of-court settlement with the EFCC.
The defence lawyer mentioned that the case had proceeded to trial after Nwabuoku’s initial attempt to reach an agreement with the EFCC failed.
EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, indicated that while the prosecution was ready to continue with the trial, it would not oppose the defendant’s request if it served justice.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to March 13, either for a report on the settlement or for the continuation of the trial.
Nwabuoku had been appointed in May 2022 as Acting AGF after the previous AGF, Ahmed Idris, was suspended amid allegations of laundering N80.2 billion. However, Nwabuoku himself was accused of fraud, which led to his removal in July 2022, just weeks after his appointment. The EFCC later amended the charge, removing co-defendant Felix Nweke, a Federal Civil Service director, after Nweke agreed to testify against Nwabuoku. The charge alleges that Nwabuoku siphoned N1.96 billion using four companies, with stolen funds channeled into bank accounts controlled by one Gideon Joseph.