The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to a total of 72 years in prison for money laundering and fraud.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
Nwabuoku, who was arraigned on January 15, faced a nine-count amended charge involving the laundering of N868.4 million. Although he was earlier granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties, the court found him guilty on all counts.
He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment on each of the nine counts, amounting to 72 years. However, the sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho described the diversion of funds meant for national security and defence—while Nwabuoku served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence—as “appalling.”
The court also commended the EFCC for its thorough prosecution, noting that evidence showing Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million during investigation was not contested by the defence.
According to the EFCC, Nwabuoku collaborated with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to launder funds suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities between 2019 and 2021.
The offences were said to violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and are punishable under the law.
The court had earlier dismissed a no-case submission filed by Nwabuoku in November 2025, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring him to enter a defence.
Nwabuoku briefly served as acting Accountant-General of the Federation after his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 20, 2022, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged fraud. He was removed from office in July 2022 amid an ongoing EFCC investigation.
