Former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), Mr Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, on Monday, pleaded with the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to acquit and discharge him of the alleged N868.46 million fraud case preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Nwabuoku made the plea when he was being led in evidence by his lawyer, Norrison Quakers, SAN shortly after he opened his defence in the matter before Justice James Omotosho.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former AGoF on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N868,465,000.
Justice Omotosho had, on November 13, 2025, dismissed a no-case submission filed by Nwabuoku on the grounds that the anti-graft agency had made out a prima facie case against him, necessitating the need to open his defence.
The judge, who said that holding that a prima facie case had been established did not necessarily imply that the court found him guilty of the charge, said that for Nwabuoku to open his defence was to allow him exhaust the options for his defence and to clear every unresolved issue.
Led in evidence by his counsel on Monday, the ex-AGF denied being a signatory to some companies allegedly linked to him.
The companies include Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, which the EFCC alleged Nwabuoku benefitted from during his time as former Director, Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
“I did not sign any document, and my name did not appear in the account opening packages of the companies,” he said when he was asked by Quakers to go through the exhibits containing the names of the companies.
When the lawyer asked him if he knows Chief Jerry Nwachukwu, Nwabuoku, who is the 1st defence witness (DW1), responded in affirmative.
“Yes, I know him. He is a contractor, a registered contractor in the Ministry of Defence, even before I became director in the ministry,” he said.
He was asked to confirm if he instructed Chief Jerry Nwachukwu, one of the prosecution witness, to purchase the property he is occupying in CityGate, as alleged before the court.
Responding, he said, “I didn’t instruct him to buy any property for me. I bought the property myself” and added that all documents associated with the said property are his, stressing that his name is on the transactional receipts of the property.
He said he had established a good record of service for 35 years allegedly without any dent and that Nwachukwu, who was EFCC’s witness, acknowledged this when he told the court that “he has no reason to doubt his (Nwabuoku’s) integrity.”
Nwabuoku told the court that he was neither a director nor a shareholder in Nwachukwu’s company.
The lawyer asked him to confirm refunding N220 million through another litigation by the EFCC and explain what he knew about the development.
The ex-AGF said the development occurred during an investigation at the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) where the officials said they saw a financial investment he made.
He told the judge that he receives “not less than N70 million annually on dividends” and that the money came from his bank account and is equally in his stock statement.
DW1 said the civil suit for forfeiture of his money was instituted by the EFCC at Court 5 of a sister judge, while the trial was ongoing.
When the lawyer showed him the court order in respect of the forfeiture, Nwabuoku confirmed it and Quakers tendered it in evidence and it was marked as Exhibit DW-H after the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, did not raise an objection.
“Finally, what do you want the court to do for you,” the lawyer asked.
“My lord, I want the court to discharge and acquit me in respect of this suit,” the ex-AGof said.
After concluding his testimony, the judge adjourned the matter till February 10 for continuation of hearing, when the EFCC’s lawyer is expected to cross-examine Nwabuoku, who was admitted to a N500 million bail with two sureties in the like sum after he was arraigned on January 15, 2025, on a nine-count amended charge.
The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, listed Nwabuoku as sole defendant.
The anti-graft agency closed its case after calling nine witnesses to establish its case against Nwabuoku.
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