Ex-AGF, EFCC enter plea bargain over alleged N1.6bn fraud

Advertisements

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

EFCC’s counsel, Ogechi Ujam, told Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja upon resumed hearing on Monday.

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

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.

“So, we are asking for a date to filed our plea bargain agreement and amended charge,” the lawyer said.

Nwabuoku’s lawyer, Isidal Udenko, and Emeka Onyeaka, who represented Nweke, also admitted opting for a plea bargain.

The presiding judge, Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 2 for for adoption of plea bargain agreement.

The anti-graft agency had preferred 11-count money laundering charge against the duo.

Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are being prosecuted for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.

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, few weeks after assumed office.
Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, replaced Nwabuoku as acting AGF.

Okolieaboh’s appointment followed after report that Nwabuoku was being charged by the EFCC over corruption allegations.