A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku has begged a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly siphoned by him. Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, in the 11-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the EFCC, prayed Justice James Omotosho to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.
Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are being prosecuted for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.
They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was, however, removed in July 2022, few weeks after assumed office.
However, when the matter was called on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case. He notified the court that his client had taken steps toward settling the matter.and had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.
He said since substantial amount had been refunded, if his client is arraigned, such action would affect the trial. He, therefore, prayed the court to grant them an adjournment in order to take further step on the administrative procedure. Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, aligned with Onyeaka’s submission. He said his client had equally taken same steps and that substantial amount had been refunded.
Responding, counsel who appeared for the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, acknowledged that though the commission was in receipt of a proposal letter, but no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties. She therefore asked for date for arrangement. After counsel agreed, the matter was adjourned until October 14 for arraignment.
-NAN