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Alleged N1.96bn fraud: Banker, director testify against ex-acting AGF
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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, heard how a former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Anamekwe Nwabuoku, used four different companies to siphon public funds to the tune of about N1.96billion.
A Director in the Federal Civil Service, Mr. Felix Nweke, made the revelation when he testified as a witness in the amended nine-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against the erstwhile Acting AGF.
Nweke, who mounted the box as the second prosecution witness, PW-2, told the court that in a bid to conceal the fraud, the looted funds were channelled into bank accounts that had one Gideon Joseph as the sole signatory.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the witness, while tracing the origin of the fraud, told the court that he worked under the defendant while he served as a Deputy Director in the Defence Ministry.
According to the witness who disclosed that he was the Deputy Director in charge of the Ministry’s expenditure, between 2018 and 2020, part of his functions included the preparation of schedule of inflows and outflows that were due to the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
Nweke said in 2018 when the ex-Acting AGF was posted to the Ministry, he (Nwabuoku) told him that there was the need to make funds available to facilitate some critical stakeholders, the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
He said the defendant, who insisted that they must be creative, suggested that they should get some companies they could use to pull out funds.
He said it was at that point that they contacted Mr. Joseph who was always coming to the ministry with his brother to make supplies.
Continuing, the PW-2, said though Joseph was initially begging him for contracts, he was persuaded to shelve the idea as the issue of contract award was not within his purview.
He told the court that when he informed the defendant about Joseph, he advised that they could enlist him.
“I then took Gideon to Eucharia Ezeodi, who has been coming to the Ministry for business. I also assisted him to open account with Zenith Bank.”
The PW-2 said their contact in the bank assisted them to open four accounts with Joseph as the signatory.
He said they usually raise money either in naira or foreign currencies, adding that the money would then be handed over to the defendant, either directly or through a proxy.
“Sometimes, the director will also ask me to do some transfers to private persons.”
Nweke added that some of the funds they generated were often used to take care of welfare packages for the military since there was no provision for such.
When EFCC’s lawyer asked the witness how funds were paid into the accounts, he said “from the internal security operations account of the military.”
When he was asked who paid the money into the internal security operations account, the witness said, “it is from the ministry’s account that payments were made.”
The witness mentioned about five names from the bank documents who were workers in the Ministry of Defence.
He alleged that funds were also transferred into bank accounts of staff members and withdrawals made afterwards and paid back into accounts of the four companies.
Earlier in her testimony, an official of Zenith Bank Plc, Eucharia Ezeodi, admitted that she knew the defendant while he was a Director in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The witness told the court that sometime in 2019, she met the defendant who was a Director of Finance and Account at the Federal Ministry of Defence, through the first witness.
She said the EFCC invited her in 2022 in respect of corporate accounts opened for the four companies that were allegedly used by the defendant to move funds out of the coffers of the ministry.
The banker went ahead to list the said companies as: Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.
She confirmed that accounts of the companies had Mr. Joseph as the sole signatory.
The witness identified bank documents, including statements of account for the four companies, account opening packages, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)’s documents and also her signature on the documents.
While being cross-examined by counsel to the defendant, Mr. Isidore Udenko, the witness said she had no personal relationship with the ex-AGF, except on bank transactions.
When she was asked if the defendant’s name reflected in any of the transactions, the witness replied that a director must not necessarily be a signatory to a company’s account.
She, however, said that a signatory to an account must bring his Identity Card, a Bank Verification Number (BVN), passport photograph, among others, which she said Joseph did.
Ezeodi said the nature of transactions in the account statements was simply deposit and withdrawal, adding that Joseph did all the withdrawals, although the defendant was the alleged beneficiary.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 26 and March 5.
It will be recalled that Nwabuoku was in May 2022, appointed to temporarily take charge of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), after the then AGF, Ahmed Idris, was suspended from office and eventually placed on trial for allegedly laundering public funds totalling about N80.2billion.
EFCC later maintained that the Acting AGF, Nwabuoku, had before his appointment, also dipped his hands into the till.
Investigations into the allegation led to his removal from the office in July 2022, few weeks after he was appointed.
Though Nweke was initially listed as the 2nd defendant, his name was subsequently removed after he agreed to testify against the former Acting AGF.
In the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24, the EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku committed an offence that was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
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Bandits: They still prefer to return to terrorist activities despite their rehabilitation – John Enenche
Retired Major General and former Defence spokesperson, John Enenche, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former terrorists, revealing that some participants openly expressed their intention to return to insurgent activities.
The retired military officer recounted being part of an assessment team that visited camps housing former terrorists in locations including Gombe. According to him, some of the individuals undergoing rehabilitation admitted they remained committed to their former causes despite being enrolled in government-backed deradicalisation programmes.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on June 3, 2026, Enenche said his personal experience assessing former insurgents in rehabilitation camps left him doubtful about the effectiveness of the current approach.
“I was part of a team that visited their camps in Gombe and elsewhere to assess them. Some told me: ‘Even if you take me to prison and bring me out, I am still going back to join them,’” Enenche said.
His remarks came as he discussed the merits and shortcomings of rehabilitation initiatives designed to reintegrate repentant terrorists and bandits into society. While acknowledging that rehabilitation and reintegration are recognised international practices, Enenche argued that Nigeria must critically evaluate whether such programmes are achieving their intended objectives.
The former Defence spokesperson suggested that authorities should reconsider existing approaches where evidence indicates that participants remain committed to violent extremism. He maintained that individuals who continue to pose security threats should not be treated as genuinely reformed simply because they have entered rehabilitation programmes.
Enenche’s comments add to the broader national debate over the effectiveness of initiatives such as Operation Safe Corridor, which was established to deradicalise and reintegrate former insurgents who surrender to security forces.
His intervention comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity across several parts of the country, with kidnappings, bandit attacks and insurgent violence continuing to challenge security agencies despite ongoing military operations.
Governor Uba Sani has signed three laws that will provide a comprehensive framework to transform the energy, agriculture and environmental sectors of Kaduna State.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, listed the new laws as the Kaduna State Electricity Law, 2026, Kaduna State Agricultural Development Fund (KADFund) Law, 2025, and Kaduna State Climate Change Advisory Board Law, 2026.
The statement quoted the Deputy Chief of Staff, Legal and Legislative Matters to the Governor, Dr. Mustapha Musa, as describing the laws as the most transformative governance reform packages.
He further said that the laws aim at expanding energy access, accelerating agricultural growth, strengthening climate resilience, and driving sustainable economic development through strong institutions.
The statement pointed out that the Kaduna State Electricity Law, 2026 establishes the Kaduna State Electricity Regulatory Commission to oversee electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and supply within the State.
The Commissioner added that the Electricity Law will create opportunities for private-sector investment, renewable energy development, and improved access to electricity.
Maiyaki also said that the KADFund Law, 2025 creates a dedicated financing mechanism to support farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, and agricultural value-chain actors through grants, soft loans, technical assistance, and investments in critical infrastructure aimed at boosting food security and agricultural productivity.
He further noted that the Kaduna State Climate Change Advisory Board Law, 2026 establishes a state-level framework for climate action, environmental sustainability, climate finance mobilization, and the integration of climate considerations into development planning, reinforcing Kaduna’s commitment to sustainable development.
The Commissioner also said the three laws collectively underscore the administration’s vision of building resilient institutions capable of driving inclusive growth, attracting investment, expanding opportunities, and delivering lasting benefits to citizens.
He noted that the landmark legislations reflect Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to laying the foundations for a prosperous, sustainable, and competitive Kaduna State through electricity sector reform, agricultural transformation, and climate-responsive governance.
According to him, the reforms establish the institutional framework needed to strengthen food security, improve living standards, and position Kaduna as a model for innovation, sustainable development, and effective subnational governance.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, Musa Farouk Abubakar, alongside his company and Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged fraud involving N691.6 million.
The defendants were arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, corruption, and money laundering to the tune of N691,677,310, according to a statement by the anti-graft agency posted on X.
One of the counts alleged that Abubakar, in July 2025, transferred N297 million from the company’s Zenith Bank account to an account belonging to Attoh, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Another count alleged that he procured Attoh to transfer N262.8 million to a company account for the purchase of property at Kapital Villa, Guzape, Abuja, also suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility, stating that the EFCC had “overwhelming evidence” against them.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Ishaka M. Dikko, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and urged that his client be remanded in EFCC custody pending hearing.
Counsel to the third defendant, Y. G. Haruna (SAN), also confirmed filing a bail application and noted that responses had been exchanged between both parties.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Egwuatu ordered that the first defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application, while the third defendant was granted bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court held that the sureties must reside in Abuja, provide verifiable means of identification, deposit passport photographs, and own property within the jurisdiction. One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must present letters of appointment and promotion.
The case was adjourned to September 1 and 2, 2026 for trial.
Bandits: They still prefer to return to terrorist activities despite their rehabilitation – John Enenche
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