A former Performing Accountant-Basic of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has opened his defence within the alleged N868.46 million fraud case instituted towards him by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), urging the court docket to acquit him of all expenses.
The event was disclosed throughout proceedings on Monday on the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, in response to court docket proceedings attended by BusinessTimes.
The case follows the trial court docket’s earlier choice dismissing Nwabuoku’s no-case submission and directing him to enter his defence.
Nwabuoku commenced his testimony earlier than Justice James Omotosho, a number of months after the court docket held that the EFCC had established proof requiring him to reply.
What they’re saying
On the resumed listening to, Nwabuoku, whereas giving evidence-in-chief by means of his counsel,Norrison I. Quakers SAN, rejected the EFCC’s claims linking him to a number of corporations (Temeeo Synergy Idea Restricted, Turge World Funding Restricted, Laptev Bridge Restricted and Arafura Transnational Afro Restricted) allegedly used to launder funds.
- He additionally denied allegations referring to property acquisition and monetary misappropriation attributed to him throughout his tenure on the Ministry of Defence.
“I heard about that firm for the primary time on this court docket.”
“I didn’t instruct Jerry Nwachukwu to purchase any property for me. I purchased the property myself.”
- He informed the court docket that he earns “not lower than N70 million yearly as dividends” from investments funded by means of his inventory assertion and private bank transactions.
- He additional urged the court docket to discharge and acquit him, insisting that the allegations towards him have been unfounded and inconsistent along with his years of public service.
Backstory
The EFCC is prosecuting Nwabuoku on a nine-count amended cost bordering on cash laundering amounting to N868,465,000.
He has pleaded not responsible to all the fees, whereas the anti-graft company has referred to as 9 witnesses in assist of its case.
In the course of the trial, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), argued that the alleged offences fall beneath Part 15 of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
He maintained that proof earlier than the court docket confirmed that funds have been paid to 4 corporations described as “entrance corporations” with none lawful transaction with the Ministry of Defence.
Counsel to the defendant, Norrison I. Quakers (SAN), countered that the EFCC lacked jurisdiction to prosecute the matter.
Nonetheless, Justice Omotosho dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the proof introduced required explanations from the defendant, notably on allegations of conspiracy and cash laundering, and ordered him to open his defence.
What you must know
Nwabuoku had earlier refunded N220 million and a duplex linked to him to the EFCC following investigations into an alleged advance charge fraud.
This disclosure was made in an ex parte non-conviction movement marked FHC/ABJ/177/2024 and filed earlier than Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja.
The movement sought an interim order freezing a number of bank accounts allegedly related to the previous AGF.
The EFCC said that the refund and forfeiture adopted ongoing investigations into monetary dealings linked to him.
The forfeiture proceedings are separate however associated to the broader allegations now earlier than Justice Omotosho.
Nwabuoku was appointed Performing Accountant-Basic of the Federation by former President Muhammadu Buhari on Could 22, 2022, pending the result of investigations into the suspended AGF, Ahmed Idris, earlier than he was later arraigned by the EFCC.
