Former Attorney General and other defendants ask the court to give more time to return the stolen Rp1.6 billion

Former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, on Wednesday, pleaded with the Federal High Court, Abuja to grant him more time to complete the recovery of stolen funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Eradication Commission (EFCC) charged Nwabuoku along with former deputy director in the Ministry of Defence, Felix Nweke on 11 counts of money laundering.

The commission accused the two of embezzling Rp1.6 billion belonging to the Federal Government.

The EFCC told the court that the defendants committed the acts while Nwabuoku was serving as Director of Finance and Accounting in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended over an alleged N80 billion fraud.

However, he was dismissed in July 2022.

When the case was called on Wednesday for the defendants to enter their pleas, Nwabuoku and Nweke stepped forward to the stand.

However, Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case.

Onyeaka told the court his client had taken steps to resolve the matter.

The lawyer said Nweke had returned large sums of money traced to him by the anti-corruption agency.

He said: “The 2nd defendant has taken steps, as there was communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged violation to make a refund.

“The commission received the money and promised to communicate with us.

“After receiving the indictment on Monday, we communicated with the commission and asked to suspend their administrative procedures.”

He said because a large amount of money had been returned, the charges against his client would affect the trial.

Therefore, he appealed to the court to grant them a stay to take further steps regarding the administrative procedures.

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Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared on behalf of Nwabuoku, agreed to Onyeaka’s surrender.

Igwe said his client had taken the same steps and a large amount of money had been returned.

“We have written to the commission regarding this matter. The first defendant has also made a number of refunds.

“May I accept the application from my friend who is still learning to tidy up his administrative procedures,” said the lawyer.

Legal counsel representing the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, acknowledged that the commission had received the proposed settlement.

He said: “However, no negotiations took place, no settlement was made and no agreement was reached by the parties.

“Under these circumstances, we urge this honorable court to allow us to file charges against the accused.

Judge James Omotosho adjourned the case until October 14 for arraignment.

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