The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on 13 November deliver its ruling on a no-case submission filed by former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, in his ongoing trial for alleged ₦868 million money laundering.
Presiding Judge Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after adopting final arguments from both the defence and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday.
Nwabuoku’s counsel, Harrison Quakers, contended that the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence linking his client to the alleged crimes, insisting that none of the nine witnesses presented by the EFCC had established a prima facie case.
But EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, maintained that the testimony and exhibits tendered had sufficiently implicated the defendant, urging the court to reject the application and order him to open his defence.
The former government official was first arraigned in January on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy and conversion of public funds allegedly committed while he was Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
According to the EFCC, Nwabuoku conspired with several companies and individuals now at large to launder the funds, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
After his arraignment, he was granted ₦500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General in May 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, but was replaced in July 2022 following reports that he was being investigated by the EFCC.
The upcoming ruling will determine whether the court finds enough evidence to continue the trial or will acquit the defendant at this stage.
