A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further proceedings in the trial of a former acting Accountant General of the Federation (AG-F), Chukwunyere Nnabuoku till March 13 to enable him make another attempt at plea bargain.
Nnabuoku is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended monday laundering charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, in which he is accused among others, of diverting about N868.4millon public funds.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Nnabuoku committed the said offence while serving as a Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Nnabuoku was earlier arraigned with Felix Nweke (who worked under him in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
On October 14, 2024 both defendants opted for a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC, which was eventually not carried through.
The prosecution subsequently amended the charge and listed Nnabuoku as the sole defendant, with Nkweke as one of its witnesses.
At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, Nnabuoku’s lawyer, Isidore Udenko said he was no longer the lead defence counsel, adding that Norrison Quakers (SAN) was now leading him.
Udenko told the court of his client’s intention to further take another shot at plea bargain.
He then prayed the court to grant an adjournment to enable the defendant explore the plea bargain option.
When asked by the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho if he was still part of the defendant’s legal team, Udenko said:
“I am part of the team my lord. But at this point, I am under superior authority. I wish my Lord can understand my helpless state.
“The SAN asked me to plead with the court to give him just one opportunity.
“Definitely in the next adjourned date, he will be here. We know that my lord has been diligent and we are determined to be diligent on our part,” Udenko said.
The prosecuting lawyer, Keele Iheanacho (SAN) expressed disappointment that he was made to bring his witnesses to court only for the defence to stall proceedings.
Iheanacho later agree to Udenko’s request, following which Justice Omotosho warned that he would not condone any further adjournment in the case.
The judge said he would take a decision if there is a repeat of the incident.