In a dramatic turn of events, the former acting Accountant-General of the Federation is pleading for more time to repay the billions of Naira he is accused of embezzling.
Former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, has requested additional time from Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to finalise the refund of public funds they allegedly misappropriated.
They face 11 counts of money laundering totaling ₦1.6 billion, charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The alleged crimes occurred between 2019 and 2021, when Nwabuoku was the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence.
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Nwabuoku was appointed acting Accountant-General on May 20, 2022, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged ₦80 billion fraud.
However, Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022.
During the court session, Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, indicated that his client had begun the process of refunding the money and had already made substantial repayments.
He argued that arraigning the defendants now could disrupt ongoing administrative procedures.
Nwabuoku’s lawyer, Maduakolam Igwe, supported this position, confirming that his client had also made significant refunds.
Both defense lawyers requested an adjournment to complete the administrative steps related to the refunds.
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Ogechi Ujam, acknowledged receiving a proposal letter from the defendants but stated that no formal negotiation or settlement had been finalised.
After considering both parties’ arguments, Justice Omotoso adjourned the arraignment to October 14, allowing more time for the defendants to finalise their refund efforts and complete the necessary administrative procedures.
