By Austin Ogwuda
FORMER acting Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Anamekwe Nwabuoku
and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6 billion have entered into plea bargain.
When the case was called up for arraignment on Wednesday, the duo pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give them more time to conclude the refund of the purportedly looted fund which has started.
Both of them are facing trial in Charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80bn fraud.
He was however removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office.
The defendants prayed the court to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.
Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka while informing the court that there was a new development in the case, pointing out that his client had taken steps towards settling the matter out of court that he (Nweke) had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.
The lawyer told the court that Nweke has further communicated to the Commission (EFCC ) via-a-vs the alleged offences on making a refund.
“The Commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us; upon being served with the charge, we communicated with the Commission and we were asked to tarry for their administrative procedure”, he told the court.
Nweke’s lawyer added that since a substantial amount had been refunded, if his client was arraigned, such action would affect the trial and prayed the court to grant them an adjournment to take further steps on the administrative procedure.
Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, aligned with Onyeaka’s submission, telling the court that his client the had equally taken the same steps and that a substantial amount had been refunded.
“We have written to the Commission (EFCC) on this. The first defendant has also made some refunds.
“May I adopt the submission of my learner friend to tidy up the administrative procedure”, he submitted.
Responding, EFCC’s counsel, Ogechi Ujam told the court that the Commission was actually in receipt of a proposal letter, but no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties.
“In the circumstances, we urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants”.
After hearing the parties the matter was adjourned till October 14, 2024.
Credit: Punch
Caption: the embattled ex AGF, Anamekwe Nwabuoku
