EFCC arraigns ex-accountant general for N1.9bn fraud
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 31, 2025, for the trial of a former acting Accountant General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nnabuoku, for alleged multiple fraud to the tune of N1.96bn.
Nnabuoku was on Wednesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on amended nine charges, bordering on criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
A statement by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the AGF’s co-defendant, Felix Nweke, opted for a plea bargain.
He added that Nnabuoku pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
“Prosecuting counsel, Martha Babatunde, had during the proceedings, informed the court that the charges had been amended and requested that they be read to the defendant to enable to him take his plea.
“Nnabuoku pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him, following which the prosecution requested for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Centre, while the defence counsel, Isidore Udenko, informed the court of a bail application for the defendant.
“The prosecution presented a counter-affidavit to the bail application and urged the court to deny the defendant bail on the grounds that he posed a flight risk, “ Oyewale stated.
He said Justice Omotosho, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500m with two sureties in like sum.
“In addition, he ordered that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within Abuja and that the value of the properties should not be less than N250m each.
“The sureties, he ruled, must also depose to an affidavit of means, and submit their bank statements and tax clearance for three years, all of which would be verified by the court’s registrar,’’ the statement added.
