A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting accountant-general of the federation, to 72 years imprisonment for money laundering and fraud.

Presiding Judge James Omotosho ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had successfully proven its case against Nwabuoku, who faced nine counts of money laundering and fraud involving N868.4 million.

Nwabuoku was granted bail of N500 million with two sureties of equal sum prior to conviction. The court sentenced him to eight years per count, to run concurrently.

The judge described Nwabuoku’s diversion of funds, originally intended for security and defence while he served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence, as “appalling.” He also commended the EFCC for its meticulous prosecution.

During the investigation, Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million, a fact confirmed by the prosecution and not challenged by the defence.

Background:

• Nwabuoku committed the offences between 2019 and 2021 while at the Ministry of Defence.
• He allegedly conspired with companies including Temeeo Synergy Concept Ltd, Turge Global Investment Ltd, Laptev Bridge Ltd, and Arafura Transnational Afro Ltd to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
• He was appointed acting accountant-general on May 20, 2022, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud, but was removed in July 2022 amid EFCC investigations.

The case was filed under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, and Nwabuoku’s earlier no-case submission was dismissed in November 2025.

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