The trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, began on Friday, 31 January 2025, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with witnesses narrating how the defendant, as former Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Defence, opened multiple bank accounts through which he allegedly diverted the ministry’s funds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nwabuoku on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868.4 million.
At Friday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, presented two witnesses. The first, prosecution witness (PW1), Eucharia Ezeobi, a Zenith Bank staff member, while being led in evidence, disclosed that she opened four company accounts, namely: Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, meant for contractors with the Federal Ministry of Defence. She further disclosed that much of the funds moved from the accounts were withdrawn in cash, a move from which, she said, the defendant significantly benefited.
The account opening packages, marked as Exhibits PWB, were identified by the witness when shown to her by the court, as prayed by defence counsel, Isidore Udenko.
On his part, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Felix Nweke, who was the Deputy Director of Accounts and Expenditure under the supervision of Nwabuoku as the Director of Finance and Accounts, Ministry of Defence, told the court that the defendant instructed him to open the four company accounts and subsequently moved funds from the Federal Ministry of Defence Security Operation Account to the companies’ accounts.
He further disclosed that funds in the accounts were usually withdrawn in cash and handed over to the defendant.
The defence counsel sought to know from PW2 if the withdrawals were initiated by the defendant alone or if there was an authority higher than him.
The witness, in his response, disclosed that he only took instructions from the defendant, who was his boss in the ministry’s chain of command.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till 26 February 2025 and 5 March 2025 for continuation of trial.
Credit: The Sun