A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday admitted former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nnabuoku, to a N500 million bail with two sureties in the like sum over alleged N1.96 billion fraud.
Ruling on Nnabuoku’s bail application moved by his lawyer, Isidore Udenko, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the sureties must be owners of landed property within Abuja and should depose to an affidavit of means.
Justice Omotosho held that that the value of the property should not be less than N250 million each.
The judge ordered the sureties to submit their bank statements and tax clearance for three years, which should be verified by the court registrar.
He adjourned the matter till January 31 for trial.
Nwabuoku had pleaded not guilty to a nine-count amended charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the commission’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, sought the leave of court for the charge to be read to him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had listed Nnabuoku as the sole defendant in the charge.
In Count One of the charge filed on November 27, 2024 by Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the EFCC alleged that Nnabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (said to be on the run), Turge Global Investment Limited (also at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (also at large) and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert funds which are proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act Number 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
NAN reports that Nnabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, in the earlier charge, had, on October 14, 2024, opted for a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.
A lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, informed Justice Omotosho upon resumed hearing in the matter.
Ujam had told the court that on the last adjourned date, Nnabuoku and Nweke had submitted proposal for settlement.
She said the parties, in the 11-count charge, had agreed and that the agreement was submitted to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede for approval.
But when the matter was called yesterday, Babatunde, who represented the anti-graft agency, informed the court that an amended charge had been filed by the agency.
In the charge, only Nnabuoku was listed as defendant while Nweke’s name had been dropped.
Although upon resumed hearing, Nnabuoku and Nweke stepped into the dock, no lawyer appeared for the latter.
Justice Omotosho asked about his lawyer and Nweke said he called his lawyer on phone and he was expecting him to be in court.
The anti-graft lawyer told the court that the commission had filed an amended charge.
She prayed the court to allow the charge to be read to Nnabuoku, and it was not opposed by Udenko, who was counsel to him.
Nweke stepped out of the court and the nine counts were read to Nnabuoku, who pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer moved his bail application, which Babatunde opposed.