A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, admitted former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nnabuoku, to a N500 million bail with two sureties in like sum over alleged fraud to the tune of N1.96 billion.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Nnabuoku’s bail application moved by his lawyer, Isidore Udenko, ordered that the sureties must be owners of landed property within Abuja and shall depose to affidavit of means.
Justice Omotosho held that the value of the property should not be less than N250 million each.
He ordered that the sureties shall submit their bank statements and tax clearance for three years which shall be verified by the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the matter until January 31 for trial.
Earlier, Nwabuoku pleaded not guilty to a nine-count amended charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the commission’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, sought the leave of court for the charge to be read to him.
The EFCC in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, listed Nnabuoku as sole defendant.
In count one of the charges filed on November 27, 2024, by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC alleged that Nnabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large) and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert funds which are proceeds of unlawful activities.
They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the director of finance and accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
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, a few weeks after assuming office.
Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account Department, replaced Nwabuoku as acting AGF.
Okolieaboh’s appointment followed reports that Nwabuoku was under the radar of the EFCC over corruption allegations.
Earlier, the ex-AGF and his co-defendants begged the court to give them more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly siphoned.
They prayed the judge to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund. NAN
