Alleged N1.6bn Fraud: Ex-AGF, Anamekwe, EFCC Enter Plea Bargain Agreement
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The 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 the alleged N1.6 billion fraud.
EFCC’s Counsel, Ogechi Ujam, disclosed this to Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja upon resumed hearing on Monday.
TheFact Daily reports that Nwabuoku and Felix 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.
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 N80bn fraud. He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.
When the matter was called, on Monday, Ujam told the court that on the last adjourned date, Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Nweke, had submitted a 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 file 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.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 2 for for adoption of a plea bargain agreement.
