Former Accountant General Nwabuoku Gets 72-Year Sentence

Nwabuoku, the former Accountant General of Nigeria, was sentenced to 72 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Abuja for his involvement in a money laundering and fraud case amounting to N868.46 million. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully prosecuted him on multiple counts, including money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and illegal diversion of public funds.

Nwabuoku held senior roles in the federal government, including Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence from 2019 to 2021, and later served as the Acting Accountant General in 2022 following the suspension of his predecessor. The EFCC filed nine amended charges against him, alleging conspiracy with several companies to divert public funds into private accounts.

In November 2025, the High Court dismissed a no-case submission, ruling that the anti-graft agency presented sufficient evidence. Nwabuoku opened his defense in early 2026, but the court found him guilty and handed down the cumulative 72-year sentence.