The trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, over an alleged N868.4 million fraud began on Friday, 31 January 2025, before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Witnesses detailed how Nwabuoku allegedly diverted funds through multiple bank accounts while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nwabuoku on nine counts of money laundering, accusing him of manipulating financial transactions to siphon public funds.
This is according to a Friday statement disclosed on the anti-graft agency’s X account.
Bank official testifies
Testifying before the court, Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), Eucharia Ezeobi, a Zenith Bank staff, detailed how she opened four corporate accounts—Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited—purportedly for contractors working with the Defence Ministry.
She revealed that ‘much of the funds moved from these accounts were withdrawn in cash’, and the defendant ‘significantly benefited’ from the transactions.
The account opening documents were tendered in court as Exhibits PWB.
Deputy director testifies
Another witness, Prosecution Witness 2 (PW2), Felix Nweke, who served as Deputy Director, Accounts and Expenditure under Nwabuoku’s supervision, told the court that the defendant ordered the opening of the accounts and directed transfers from the Defence Ministry’s Security Operation Account into them.
‘Funds in the accounts were usually withdrawn in cash and handed over to the defendant’, Nweke stated.
Under cross-examination, the defence questioned whether the withdrawals were authorised by higher officials.
Nweke responded, ‘I only took instructions from the defendant, who was my boss in the ministry’s chain of command’.
Following the witnesses’ testimonies, Justice Omotosho adjourned the trial to 26 February and 5 March 2025, for further proceedings.
