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A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him time to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Nwabuoku is facing nine counts of alleged N1.96bn fraud. His counsel, Isidore Udenko, requested the court to allow his client to negotiate a settlement with the EFCC.
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The EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), stated that the prosecution had no objections to the request.
A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, on Wednesday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him time to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N1.96bn fraud.
Nwabuoku is facing nine counts filed by the EFCC.
Nwabuoku was initially charged alongside Felix Nweke, a director in the Federal Civil Service, but the anti-graft agency amended the charges, dropping Nweke as a co-defendant after he agreed to testify against Nwabuoku.
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The amended charge accuses Nwabuoku of violating Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
During the trial, Nweke, now a prosecution witness, testified that Nwabuoku used four companies to divert N1.96bn in public funds.
Nwabuoku’s counsel, Isidore Udenko, pleaded with the court to allow his client to negotiate a settlement with the EFCC. Udenko explained that Nwabuoku had previously attempted to settle with the EFCC, but negotiations fell through.
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He also disclosed that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria had been engaged to facilitate the new settlement talks.
In response, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), said, “Although we have five witnesses in court and are prepared to proceed with the trial if the defendant’s request aligns with the interests of justice, we will not oppose it.”
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to March 13 for a settlement update or continuation of trial.
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