Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, the former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, has admitted in the Federal High Court in Abuja to authorising the transfer of N868.4 million in public funds from the Ministry of Defence to four private companies. The confession, made during cross-examination on Tuesday, marks a dramatic turn in the ongoing money laundering trial against the former senior public finance official.

The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, heard that the funds were transferred to Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited. Nwabuoku described the transactions in a written statement to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as for “classified security purposes.” However, this contradicted his earlier testimony in court, where he denied any links to the companies.

READ ALSO:

• Kwankwasiyya Urges US Congress to Drop Kwankwaso’s Name from Bill
• Liverpool Edge Sunderland 1-0 to Halt Impressive Home Streak
• Jakande’s servant-leadership mindset remains relevant — Olurode

During cross-examination by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, Nwabuoku was confronted with his ICPC statement dated February 2, 2025, in which he admitted authorising the payments while serving as the Director of Finance at the Defence Ministry. The prosecution argued that there was no evidence that the funds were used for lawful security purposes, insisting that the transactions lacked proper documentation or justification.

Nwabuoku also addressed questions regarding his personal residence, claiming he purchased the property with legitimate earnings. However, he acknowledged a N64 million cheque issued by Mdavi Limited to City Gate Homes for the acquisition of the house, raising further questions about the source of funds.

He faces nine counts of money laundering linked to the N868,465,000, with the EFCC prosecuting the case. Earlier, the court dismissed his no-case submission, ruling that sufficient evidence existed for him to open his defence. The trial has highlighted alleged gaps in public finance management and accountability, particularly in senior government offices.

The case has been adjourned to February 27, 2026, for the adoption of written addresses by counsel, as the court continues to weigh evidence in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile anti-corruption trials.

The proceedings have attracted significant attention, reflecting growing public demand for transparency and the recovery of misappropriated public funds. Nwabuoku’s admission is expected to play a key role in the prosecution’s case and could influence how accountability measures are enforced in the management of federal resources.

Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

Deji Adeyanju Mocks El-Rufai Over Alleged Arrest Plot

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has mocked former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai following the latter’s claim that the Federal Government is planning to arrest and detain him upon his return to Nigeria.

El-Rufai had raised the alarm in a two-page document titled “Confidential Briefing Memo”, dated February 10, 2026, in which he expressed concerns about what he described as an anticipated politically motivated detention. The memo, reportedly sighted by BusinessDay, outlined alleged sustained pressure from security and anti-corruption agencies after his fallout with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his withdrawal from participating in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In the memo, the former governor said that since formally declining to serve in the Tinubu administration in August 2023 and subsequently resigning from the APC, he and his associates have faced repeated investigations.

“Since formally withdrawing my earlier acceptance to serve in the Tinubu administration in August 2023 and subsequently resigning from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), my close allies and I have been subjected to repeated investigations by security and anti-corruption agencies,” he stated.

El-Rufai, who is reportedly outside the country, further alleged that several former officials who served in his administration, as well as business associates linked to him, have been unlawfully detained without charge for extended periods.

READ ALSO:

• Omokri Defends Electronic Transmission, Questions Feasibility of Real-Time Results in Nigeria
• 2027 Polls: Christian Group Cautions Shari’a Council Over INEC Boycott Threat
• Starvation Cult Preacher Faces Expanded Murder, Terrorism Charges in Kenya

“Officials who served in my administration and business persons alleged to be associated with me have been unlawfully detained without charge for extended periods, including my Chief of Staff (50 days), a Senior Adviser (28 days), a commissioner (24 days), and a CEO (over 70 days and still detained). They are then arraigned on phantom charges, with judges influenced to deny bail or impose stringent conditions,” he claimed.

The former governor also recalled what he described as a similar attempt to prosecute him during the administrations of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan. According to him, efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between 2010 and 2013 failed after he was discharged and acquitted of an alleged abuse of office charge relating to land approvals while serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Despite years of intense, multi-agency investigation, no credible evidence has been presented against me, and no charges have been filed,” El-Rufai added.

On the alleged new plan to arrest him, he said he had received credible information indicating the certainty of detention upon his imminent return to Nigeria. He described the move as inconsistent with constitutional safeguards and Nigeria’s international obligations, while also alleging selective prosecution of opposition figures and sponsored media attacks aimed at damaging his reputation.

However, reacting via social media, Deji Adeyanju dismissed El-Rufai’s claims and accused him of hypocrisy, referencing his record while serving as Kaduna State governor.

“El-Rufai said they are planning to arrest him soon. El-Rufai arrested everyone who criticized him in Kaduna,” Adeyanju wrote.

He cited the case of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a government critic who was abducted in 2019 and has not been found since.

“His critic Dadiyata who was abducted in front of his wife and daughter disappeared till today without trace. The oppressors of yesterday are now comrades,” Adeyanju added.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Federal Government, the Presidency, or relevant security agencies regarding El-Rufai’s allegations of an impending arrest.

The development marks another chapter in the ongoing political tensions involving the former governor, who has recently been vocal about his disagreements with the current administration and internal dynamics within the APC.

Deji Adeyanju Mocks El-Rufai Over Alleged Arrest Plot

Omokri Defends Electronic Transmission, Questions Feasibility of Real-Time Results in Nigeria

Former presidential candidate and ambassador-designate Reno Omokri has said that calls by Peter Obi and other opposition figures for real-time electronic transmission of election results reflect weak grassroots party structures rather than genuine electoral reform concerns.

Omokri made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed the intensifying national debate on electoral reforms, the Electoral Act amendment, and broader concerns about election credibility in Nigeria.

According to him, credible elections depend more on strong party presence at polling units than on technology alone. He argued that political parties serious about winning elections must deploy agents to every polling unit to monitor the voting process, witness counting, and sign official result sheets.

“If you have your party agents in every polling unit, it is impossible to rig. At the polling unit, the presiding officer signs the result and all party agents sign. If anything different is declared elsewhere, you can tender that result sheet in court,” Omokri said.

READ ALSO:

• 2027 Polls: Christian Group Cautions Shari’a Council Over INEC Boycott Threat
• Starvation Cult Preacher Faces Expanded Murder, Terrorism Charges in Kenya
• Lagos Allocates 180 Shops to Displaced Alabarago Market Traders

He stressed that the legally recognised result is the physical EC8A form signed at the polling unit, not the electronically transmitted version. “The EC8A form signed by the presiding officer and party agents is the real result. If what is transmitted electronically differs from that physical document, it is the physical document that the court will rely on,” he added.

Omokri claimed that during the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party lacked agents in several polling units nationwide, particularly in areas where it performed poorly. He said this absence fueled suspicions of manipulation. “In polling units where they lost and did not have agents, they assumed they were cheated. The issue is not about real-time transmission. The issue is structure. Whether it is ADC or Labour Party, get your party agents in every polling unit in Nigeria,” he stated.

His comments come amid renewed controversy over proposals to amend the Electoral Act and whether INEC should be mandated to carry out compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Despite his criticism, Omokri clarified that he supports electronic transmission of election results, describing it as necessary for transparency and accountability. However, he warned against what he called emotional or unrealistic expectations regarding instantaneous nationwide transmission.

“I support electronic transmission of election results. Anyone who is patriotic should support that. But what some people are asking for is real-time electronic transmission, and that is not practicable, even in countries that are far more technologically advanced than Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that in countries like the United States, early results announced on television are typically media projections based on exit polls rather than official declarations by electoral authorities. “The official results are announced later by the electoral authorities. We saw the danger of relying on that in 2000, when the media wrongly declared a winner and had to reverse itself,” he noted.

According to him, electronic transmission is meant to enhance transparency and public participation, not replace manual collation or physical documentation. “Electronic transmission is not the substantive or primary way of declaring results. It is a backup meant for transparency and accountability. Even if you hack the electronic system, it does not change the physical result,” he said.

Omokri also cited Nigeria’s infrastructure limitations, questioning the feasibility of seamless real-time result transmission across thousands of polling units, including rural communities with limited or no network coverage. “If banks cannot guarantee 100 per cent real-time transfers, how do you expect INEC to do real-time transmission across thousands of polling units?” he asked, adding that connectivity gaps are not unique to Nigeria.

Responding to criticisms surrounding his nomination as ambassador by President Bola Tinubu, Omokri rejected claims of hypocrisy for accepting a government appointment after previously criticising the administration. According to him, he never categorically ruled out serving Nigeria under the current government.

“When the facts changed, I changed with them. I went to Chicago State University myself to verify the truth, even though it went against my political interest. I deal with facts, not emotions,” he said. He clarified that while he may have declined certain roles previously due to past comments, he never said he would not serve Nigeria. “As an ambassador, I’m going to work for Nigeria. I will be an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.

Omokri is among the nominees President Bola Tinubu forwarded to the Senate for ambassadorial screening and confirmation.

He also criticised human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, expressing concern over what he described as his approach to economic policy discussions. Referencing a comment attributed to Sowore suggesting cannabis cultivation as part of economic diversification, Omokri questioned the viability of such a proposal.

“This is a drug considered ‘Class B’ in the UK and banned in so many countries. And this man said that is the key to Nigeria’s economic survival?” Omokri said. He argued that if Nigeria’s soil is fertile enough for such crops, it should instead prioritise more valuable and widely accepted agricultural exports.

Omokri Defends Electronic Transmission, Questions Feasibility of Real-Time Results in Nigeria