Former Accountant-General Gets 72 Years for ₦868m Fraud

On March 23, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced former Accountant-General Chukwunyer Anamekw Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison for his involvement in a ₦868,465,000 fraud case. Justice Jame Omotosho delivered the judgment, finding Nwabuoku guilty on multiple counts of money laundering as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court heard that Nwabuoku, who previously served as Director of Finance in the Ministry of Defence, authorized the transfer of public funds to four private companies for classified purposes. During the trial, he admitted to facilitating these transactions but later claimed he was unaware of the companies' operations.

The EFCC argued that the funds were unlawfully diverted and laundered, lacking transparency and due process. Nwabuoku's earlier denials were contradicted during cross-examination, leading to his conviction on nine counts of money laundering under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.