Court to Deliver Judgment April 13 in N868m Money Laundering Case Against Ex-Acting Accountant-General
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has fixed April 13, 2026 for judgment in the N868 million money laundering case involving former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Chukwunyere Nwabuoku.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, and defence counsel, Norrison Quakers, SAN, adopted their final written addresses and canvassed arguments for and against the charge.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on January 15, 2025, on a nine-count amended charge and admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties in like amount. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, lists him as the sole defendant.
The EFCC alleges that, while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021, Nwabuoku conspired with several companies—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 offences are said to contravene Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and are punishable under Section 15(3) of the Act.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General on May 20, 2022, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud. He was removed in July 2022 and replaced by Sylva Okolieaboh amid EFCC scrutiny.
During trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses, including Zenith Bank official Eucharia Ezeodi and federal civil servant Felix Nweke. On November 13, 2025, Justice Omotosho dismissed Nwabuoku’s no-case submission, holding that a prima facie case had been established, though this did not amount to a finding of guilt.
Opening his defence on February 2, 2026, Nwabuoku urged the court to discharge and acquit him, denying any link as a signatory to the companies cited in the charge. He had earlier explored a plea bargain in February 2025, but later withdrew. The EFCC subsequently amended the charge, retaining him as sole defendant while listing Nweke among its witnesses.
