By: Manoah Kikekon
ABUJA, Nigeria – In a landmark judgment for Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to 72 years in prison.
The conviction follows a rigorous prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) involving a staggering **N868.46 million money laundering scheme.
The Verdict: A Fall from Grace
The EFCC confirmed the sentencing on Monday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. Nwabuoku was found guilty on nine amended counts of money laundering. The court's decision marks the end of a high-profile trial that began following his arraignment on January 15, 2025.
Nwabuoku’s tenure as the nation's top accountant was brief and shrouded in controversy. He was appointed in May 2022 to replace the suspended Ahmed Idris who was himself embroiled in an N80 billion fraud scandal only to be removed just weeks later.
The Anatomy of the Fraud
The prosecution successfully argued that Nwabuoku, during his previous stint as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence (2019–2021), conspired with several shell companies to siphon public funds.
Entities involved in the laundering scheme included: Temero Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.
The EFCC alleged that these companies were used to convert funds that were proceeds of unlawful activities, a direct violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
"The conviction of a high-ranking official like Nwabuoku sends a clear signal that the era of impunity in the civil service is drawing to a close," an EFCC spokesperson stated.