Appeal Court rejects former Accountant-General’s bail application in N868m fraud trial

Appeal Court rejects former Accountant-General’s bail application in N868m fraud trial

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has refused to grant bail to former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction for fraud, money laundering and the diversion of N868.4 million in public funds.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, dismissed Nwabuoku’s application for bail, ruling that it lacked merit. The three-member panel, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, held that the former public official failed to present sufficient grounds to justify his release while his appeal is awaiting determination.

The ruling represents another legal setback for Nwabuoku, who was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 23, 2026, after being found guilty on a nine-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the trial, held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court subsequently convicted Nwabuoku on all nine counts and sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment on each count, bringing the total sentence to 72 years. However, the judge ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve the prison terms simultaneously rather than consecutively.

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Dissatisfied with the judgment, Nwabuoku, through his lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), filed a notice of appeal on May 8, 2026, challenging both his conviction and sentence. He also asked the Court of Appeal to grant him bail pending the determination of the appeal.

In his application, the former Acting Accountant-General argued that his health had deteriorated significantly while in custody. He claimed that the medical facilities available at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, which provides healthcare services for inmates of the Kuje Correctional Centre, were inadequate to manage his condition and that he required specialised medical treatment outside the correctional facility.

The EFCC, however, opposed the application through a counter-affidavit filed by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN). The anti-graft agency argued that the offences for which Nwabuoku was convicted involved the diversion of substantial public funds, undermining government efforts to tackle insecurity and deliver critical public services.

The commission further submitted that the applicant failed to provide credible medical evidence showing that his health condition could not be adequately managed within the existing correctional healthcare system.

According to the EFCC, records from the correctional authorities indicated that Nwabuoku had received regular medical attention and had not been denied access to healthcare whenever the need arose. The commission also maintained that the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital possesses the capacity to provide specialist care, including surgical procedures where necessary.

The anti-corruption agency argued that granting bail to a convict found guilty of large-scale corruption before the conclusion of his appeal would erode public confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system and weaken the country’s ongoing fight against corruption, money laundering and the misuse of public resources.

The EFCC further contended that releasing the former Acting Accountant-General at this stage could create the impression that high-profile corruption convicts receive preferential treatment, contrary to the principles of justice and accountability.

After reviewing the submissions of both parties, the Court of Appeal agreed with the prosecution and dismissed the bail application, holding that the applicant failed to establish exceptional circumstances required under the law to justify bail after conviction.

The substantive appeal challenging Nwabuoku’s conviction and sentence is expected to be heard by the Court of Appeal at a later date.

The case is one of several high-profile corruption prosecutions pursued by the EFCC as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability in the management of public finances and deter financial crimes within Nigeria’s public service.

Appeal Court rejects former Accountant-General’s bail application in N868m fraud trial