Former accountant-general asks for more time to refund money he is accused of embezzling

FORMER acting accountant-general of the federation Anamekwe Nwabuoku has pleaded for more time to enable him refund the public funds he was found charged with embezzling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended over an alleged N80bn fraud. He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office and has since been charged to court for corruption himself by the EFCC.

Yesterday, Mr Nwabuoku pleaded with Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant. Mr Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, are facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6bn.

Both defendants were accused of committing to the act while Mr Nwabuoku served as the director of finance and accounts in the Federal Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. When the matter was called in court yesterday, the defendants prayed the court to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.

Mr Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case, adding that his client had taken steps towards settling the matter. According to Mr Onyeaka, Mr Nweke had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.

He said since a substantial amount had been refunded, if his client was arraigned, such action would affect the trial and asked the court to grant them an adjournment to take further steps on the administrative procedure. Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Mr Nwabuoku, agreed with Mr Onyeaka’s submission, adding that his client had equally taken the same steps and that a substantial amount had been refunded.

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

Responding, Ogechi Ujam,  the EFCC counsel, said that although the commission was in receipt of a proposal letter, no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties. After hearing the parties out, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until October 14 for arraignment.