The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s(EFCC) authority to prosecute former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
The court ruled on Friday that the Commission had the legal powers to investigate and prosecute the N868.4 million money laundering case against him.
Justice Ele-Ojo Enenche delivered the lead judgment for a three-member panel, rejecting all four issues raised by Nwabuoku in his appeal.
The ruling also upheld his conviction on nine counts and the 72-year prison sentence imposed by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Appeal court backs EFCC prosecution
Nwabuoku had challenged the Commission’s statutory competence to prosecute him. However, the appeal court resolved the issue against him, affirming that the EFCC had the required legal powers.
The judges also examined his complaint about statements obtained during the investigation. They ruled that the evidence established that Nwabuoku made the statements voluntarily.
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On the handling of evidence, the court found that the trial judge had properly examined the material presented by both sides.
It also held that the EFCC proved all nine charges beyond reasonable doubt. The panel consequently dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
EFCC counsel, Ekele Ihenacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, led the Commission’s legal team. He commended the court for upholding justice in the case.
How the case reached the appeal court
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, convicted Nwabuoku on March 23, 2026. The court sentenced him to 72 years in prison for laundering N868,465,000.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Nwabuoku approached the Court of Appeal. His lawyer, N.I. Quakers, SAN, also filed a bail application on May 8, 2026.
He told the court that his health had deteriorated and required medical care beyond what was available at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
The hospital had been designated to provide medical services to inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja.
Nwabuoku also presented himself as a responsible citizen who had served as Acting Accountant-General. He said credible sureties were willing to take responsibility for his release.
The EFCC opposed the application through a counter-affidavit filed on May 25, 2026. It said the offences involved substantial public funds meant for national security and the fight against insurgents.
The Commission also warned that granting bail could weaken public confidence in the fight against corruption, money laundering, insurgency and misuse of public funds.
The prosecution maintained that the seriousness of the offences did not support his release. The court subsequently dismissed the bail application.
WHAT READERS SHOULD KNOW
The case involved funds amounting to N868,465,000, which the EFCC prosecuted through nine money laundering counts.
The appeal court’s ruling covered four separate questions: the EFCC’s prosecution powers, the voluntariness of Nwabuoku’s statements, the trial court’s assessment of evidence and proof of the charges.
All four questions were resolved against the former accountant-general.
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