₦868m Fraud: Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Jailed 72 Years

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday said a former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has been convicted and sentenced to 72 years imprisonment over fraud involving ₦868.46 million.

The commission disclosed this in a statement shared via its official X handle, noting that Nwabuoku was prosecuted before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on money laundering.

“The former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, who was prosecuted by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for money laundering involving ₦868.46 million, has been convicted and sentenced to jail for 72 years,” the statement read.

The anti-graft agency said Nwabuoku was arraigned on January 15, 2025, on nine amended counts of money laundering.

Following his arraignment, the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in like sum.

In the first count, the EFCC alleged that the former AGF conspired with several companies, including Temero 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.

According to the commission, the alleged offences contravened Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and are punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The EFCC further disclosed that the case involved the laundering of about ₦86 million during Nwabuoku’s tenure as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

The commission said it called nine witnesses in the course of the trial to establish its case against the defendant.

Among the witnesses were a staff member of Zenith Bank, Eucharia Ezeodi, and a director in the federal civil service, Felix Nweke.

Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General of the Federation in May 2022 following the suspension of his predecessor, Ahmed Idris, over an alleged ₦800 million fraud.

However, he was removed from office a few weeks after his appointment.

The conviction is seen as part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on financial crimes and strengthen accountability in public service.

The commission has repeatedly maintained its commitment to prosecuting corruption cases and ensuring that public officials found guilty of financial misconduct are brought to justice.