The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a complex web of deceit and corruption involving the former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku. According to testimony presented in court, Nwabuoku allegedly opened multiple bank accounts in the names of four companies to divert public funds totaling ₦868,465,000.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The revelation came during the trial of Nwabuoku, who is facing a nine-count amended charge of money laundering brought against him by the EFCC. Eucharia Ezeobi, a staff member of Zenith Bank, testified as the EFCC’s first witness (PW1) that she opened four company accounts for contractors with the Federal Ministry of Defence. The accounts were opened in the names of Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ezeobi disclosed that most withdrawals from the accounts were in cash, and that the defendant benefited from them. The accounts’ opening packages were tendered as evidence and marked as Exhibits PWB by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The EFCC’s second witness (PW2), Felix Nweke, a director at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, testified that he worked under Nwabuoku, facilitating payments. Nweke stated that the defendant instructed him to open company accounts to access funds, and that he contacted Gideon Joseph, a resource person to the ministry, to open the accounts with Zenith Bank.
During cross-examination, Nweke revealed that the ministry is funded by the Appropriation Bill signed by the President, and that Nwabuoku is not an approving officer in the ministry but conveys approval for the release of funds. The trial continues, with the EFCC seeking to prove that Nwabuoku used his position to divert public funds for personal gain.