N1.6 Billion Fraud: Ex-AGF, Nwabuoku Strikes Plea Deal
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 allegations of N1.6 billion fraud. This development was disclosed by the EFCC’s counsel, Ogechi Ujam, during a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
Ujam informed Justice James Omotosho that both Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, had submitted a proposal for settlement. The parties agreed to the plea bargain, and the agreement has been submitted to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for approval.
Nwabuoku and Nweke are facing 11 counts of money laundering related to N1.6 billion allegedly siphoned between 2019 and 2021, when Nwabuoku served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence.
The case was adjourned to December 2, 2024, for the formal adoption of the plea bargain agreement.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF in May 2022 following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud but was removed a few weeks later, amid corruption allegations linked to his tenure at the Ministry of Defence. Both defendants had previously sought additional time from the court to complete the refund of public funds, delaying their arraignment.
