Dare Babalola
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Anamekwe Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison over an N868.4 million fraud case.
Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Nwabuoku had been arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud.
The anti-graft agency accused him of conspiring with several firms, 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 unlawful activities. The offences were said to violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
According to the EFCC, the offences were committed between 2019 and 2021 while Nwabuoku served as director of finance and accounts at the Ministry of Defence.
Earlier in the trial, the court had granted him bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. His no-case submission was, however, dismissed in November 2025, paving the way for the judgment.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general on May 20, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged fraud. He was removed from office in July 2022, weeks after his appointment, amid reports of an ongoing EFCC investigation.
