‘N868.4m Fraud’: I Released Those Funds to Private Companies for “Classified Purposes” – Former Acting AGF Admits

A former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 admitted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja,  that he confessed in his statements at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, that funds were transferred to four companies from the Ministry of Defence, where he was formerly the Director of Finance for what he described simply as “classified purposes.”

This admission sharply contradicts his testimony in the previous proceeding in the court where he disputed allegations linking him with any dealings with the said companies, namely, Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited. He had then claimed that he only heard about the companies as they were mentioned in court.

Under cross examination by prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, on Tuesday, the defendant was shown his statement in ICPC, dated February 2, 2025, where he admitted in writing that funds were transferred to the four companies from the Ministry of Defence, under him as the Director of Finance for classified security purposes which are not to be disclosed.
 
Further in the cross-examination, the prosecution counsel maintained in his submission that evidence before the court showed that the funds paid to these four companies by the Ministry of Defence were not for lawful transactions as there is no proof whatsoever to show that they were used for security purposes.

While claiming that he bought the property he lives in, directly by himself and from legitimate earnings, the defendant/witness curiously identified in the same breath a cheque of N64 million issued by a company, Mdavi Limited in favour of City Gate Homes for the acquisition of the residence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Nwabuoku on amended nine-count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868, 465,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Naira).

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till February 27, 2026 for adoption of written addresses.