Appointed after his predecessor was suspended over an alleged N80bn fraud, a former Acting Attorney-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has pleaded for time to refund N1.6bn he allegedly stole within weeks of assuming office
Nwabuoku, on Wednesday, pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting AGF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after his predecessor Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80bn fraud. He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.
Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, are facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6bn.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The defendants were accused of committing the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
While Nwabuoku is the first defendant, Nweke is the second defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, the defendants prayed the court to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.
Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case. He told the court that his client had taken steps towards settling the matter.
The lawyer said Nweke had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.
“The second defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged offences on making a refund.
“The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us,” he said.
The defence counsel said upon being served with the charge, “We communicated with the commission and we were asked to tarry for their administrative procedure.”
He said since a substantial amount had been refunded, if his client was arraigned, such action would affect the trial. He, therefore, prayed the court to grant them an adjournment to take further steps on the administrative procedure.
Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, aligned with Onyeaka’s submission. Igwe said his client had also taken the same steps and that a substantial amount had been refunded.
“We have written to the commission on this. The first defendant has also made some refunds. May I adopt the submission of my learner friend to tidy up the administrative procedure,” he corroborated.
Responding, counsel who appeared for the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, acknowledged that though the commission was in receipt of a proposal letter, she said, “No negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties.
“In the circumstances, we urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants.”
After hearing the parties out, Justice Omotosho adjourned till October 14 for arraignment.
