Ex-AGF, EFCC in bargain agreement over N1.6bn fraud

Ex-AGF, EFCC in bargain agreement over N1.6bn fraud

The former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has entered a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)over the alleged N1.6 billion fraud.

This was disclosed by the prosecution counsel, Ogechi Ujam when the trial resumed  yesterday before Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

The EFCC had preferred an 11-count money laundering charge against Nwabuoku and a former deputy director in the Ministry of Defence, Felix Nweke, for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.

While Nwabuoku is the 1st defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed May 27 by Ekele Iheanacho, Nweke is the 2nd defendant.

They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

But when the matter was called, Ujam told the court that on the last adjourned date, Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, had submitted a proposal for settlement.

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She said the parties in the charge had agreed and that the agreement had been submitted to the EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for approval.

“ My Lord, in the circumstances, we are asking for a date to file our plea bargain agreement and amended charge,” the prosecution counsel said.

On their part, counsel to the defendants, Isidal Udenko, and Emeka Onyeaka, who represented Nweke, also admitted opting for a plea bargain.

Consequently, Justice Omotosho  adjourned the matter until December 2 for for adoption of a plea bargain agreement.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.

He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assumed office.

 

Ex-AGF, EFCC in bargain agreement over N1.6bn fraud