A former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Anamekwe Nwabuoku, who is facing trial over an alleged N1.96 billion fraud, has begged the Federal High Court in Abuja for time to negotiate a settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nwabuoku, who is facing a nine-count charge, made the plea on Wednesday after the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the anti-graft agency had brought five additional witnesses to testify in the case.
Although represented by his lawyer, Mr. Isidore Udenko, Nwabuoku personally addressed the court, stating that he had engaged the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to help broker an out-of-court settlement with the EFCC. Udenko explained that the matter had proceeded to trial after initial attempts to reach an agreement with the EFCC failed.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho, expressed no objection to the defendant’s request, stating, “Even though our five witnesses are in court and we are ready to go on with the trial, however, if the request of the defendant will meet the justice of the case, we will not be opposing.”
Consequently, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case until March 13, 2024, for either a report of settlement or continuation of the trial.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting AGF in May 2022 following the suspension of the then AGF, Ahmed Idris, who was also facing trial for allegedly laundering public funds totaling about N80.2 billion. However, Nwabuoku was removed from office in July 2022 after the EFCC accused him of involvement in financial misconduct.
He was subsequently charged to court alongside a federal civil service director, Mr. Felix Nweke. However, Nweke was later delisted as a co-defendant after agreeing to testify against Nwabuoku.
In the amended charge, the EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku used four different companies to siphon public funds amounting to N1.96 billion. Nweke, who testified as a prosecution witness, revealed that the looted funds were channeled into bank accounts with Gideon Joseph as the sole signatory in an attempt to conceal the fraud.
The case continues to unfold as Nwabuoku seeks to negotiate a settlement with the EFCC.
