A former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has returned ₦220 million and a luxury duplex in Abuja to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged advanced fee fraud during his time in office.
The development was disclosed in a non-conviction-based ex parte motion filed by the EFCC, marked FHC/ABJ/177/2024, currently before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Although, the matter was scheduled for mention on Monday, it has been adjourned to October 22, 2025.
In the motion presented by EFCC counsel , E. Iheanacho, SAN, the Commission requested the court to : * Grant interim forfeiture of the funds and properties listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of the application.
*Direct the publication of the interim order in a national newspaper, calling on interested parties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be granted to the Federal Government.
Assets and funds the EFCC seeks to forfeit include : *₦12,526,206.55 in Temeeo Synergy Concept Ltd
*₦4,102,570.25 in Turge Global Investment Ltd
*₦682,904.36 in Laptev Bridge Ltd
*₦51,279,067.53 in Arafura Transnational Afro Ltd
*₦220 million refunded by Nwabuoku to the EFCC’s Recovery Account
*A five-bedroom detached duplex at No. 20, City Gate Estate, Kukwaba, Abuja
According to an affidavit by EFCC investigator, Chinelo Okpara, Nwabuoku is being investigated for allegedly diverting internal security funds earmarked for the Nigerian Armed Forces while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence.
Okpara stated that about ₦355 million was laundered through M Davi Company Enterprises with the involvement of several individuals, including a Mr. Joseph Gideon, between November 4, 2019, and September 5, 2020.
The EFCC maintains these transactions ultimately benefited the former AGF.
In an extrajudicial statement, Nwabuoku reportedly admitted receiving and utilizing portions of the funds, including ₦64 million used to acquire the now-forfeited duplex and ₦160 million invested in securities.
The EFCC is relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, which permits non-conviction-based forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
Iheanacho emphasized that this legal provision does not require a criminal conviction, focusing instead on asset preservation.
In a related case, Nwabuoku is also standing trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a nine-count amended charge of money laundering involving ₦868,465,000.
He has pleaded not guilty, and the matter remains ongoing.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General of the Federation on May 22, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris, who was also under EFCC investigation.
However, he soon came under scrutiny himself, resulting in the return of significant sums and the surrender of property now subject to judicial forfeiture.
The court will reconvene on October 22, 2025, to continue proceedings on the EFCC’s interim forfeiture motion.
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Source – BarristerNG
(vitalnewsngr.com)
