A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, March 23, 2026, convicted and sentenced a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Chukwunyere Nwabuoku to a 72-year jail term without an option of fine.
The Court presided over by Justice James Omotosho, in a judgement, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been able to prove the nine-count money laundering charge beyond reasonable doubt.
Accordingly, the trial judge convicted Nwabuoku in all the nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment in each of the counts, making 72 years. The court, however ruled that the counts will run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho, described Nwabuoku’s act of diverting funds meant for security and defence while he served as Director of Finance and Account in the Ministry of Defence as “appalling,” and commended the EFCC for being detailed in its prosecution.
The trial judge further said that the evidence of the ninth prosecution witness that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded part of the siphoned money of over N200 million during investigation was not controverted by the defence.
The convicted Nwabuoku was initially 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 listed Nwabuoku as the sole defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024.
The former acting Accountant General of the Federation was alleged to have perpetrated the act while serving as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
