Alleged N1.96bn fraud: Court admits former Minister to N500m bail

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2025

olalekan

Alleged N1.96bn fraud: Court admits former Minister to N500m bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, admitted former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nnabuoku, to a N500 million bail with two sureties in the like sum over allegations bordering on N1.96 billion fraud.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Nnabuoku’s bail application moved by his lawyer, Isidore Udenko, ordered that the sureties must be owners of landed property within Abuja and shall depose to affidavit of means.

Justice Omotosho held that that the value of the property should not be less than N250 million each.

He ordered that the sureties shall submit their bank statements and tax clearance for three years which shall be verified by the court registrar.

The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 31 for trial.

Earlier, Nwabuoku pleaded not guilty to a nine-count amended charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the commission’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, sought the leave of court for the charge to be read to him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, listed Nnabuoku as sole defendant.

In count one of the charge filed on Nov. 27, 2024, by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC alleged that Nnabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large) and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert funds which are proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

NAN reports that Nnabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, in the earlier charge, had, on Oct. 14, 2024, opted for a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.

Lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, informed Justice Omotosho upon resumed hearing in the matter.

Ujam had told the court that on the last adjourned date, Nnabuoku and Nweke had submitted proposal for settlement.

She said the parties, in the 11-count charge, had agreed and that the agreement was submitted to the EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for approval.

However, when the matter was called on Wednesday, Babatunde, who represented the anti-graft agency, informed the court that an amended charge had been filed by the agency.

In the charge, only Nnabuoku was listed as defendant while Nweke’s name had been dropped.

Although upon resumed hearing, Nnabuoku and Nweke stepped into the dock, no lawyer appeared for the latter.

Justice Omotosho then asked about his lawyer and Nweke said he called his lawyer on phone and he was expecting him to be in court.

The anti-graft lawyer then told the court that the commission had filed an amended charge.

She prayed the court to allow the charge to be read to Nnabuoku and it was not opposed by Udenko, who was counsel to him.

Nweke then stepped out of the court and the nine counts were read to Nnabuoku, who pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His lawyer then moved his bail application which was vehemently opposed by Babatunde.

Babatunde objected to Nnabuoku’s bail plea orally on the ground of the weighty nature of the offence.

She said the defendant might jump bail and refuse to stand his trial.

She urged the court to take judicial notice of her submission if the court was minded to grant him bail.

NAN, however, gathered that Nweke, who was earlier listed as co-defendant, had agreed to serve as prosecution witness in the charge against Nnabuoku, after he had fully refunded the money he allegedly laundered.

Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, were earlier being prosecuted for the alleged money laundering offences.

While Nwabuoku was the 1st defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20, 2024, and filed May 27, 2024, by Iheanacho, Nweke was the 2nd defendant.

They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.

He was, however, removed in July 2022, few weeks after assumed office.

Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, replaced Nwabuoku as acting AGF.

Okolieaboh’s appointment followed after report that Nwabuoku was under the radar of EFCC over corruption allegations.

NAN had, on July 10, 2024, reported that the ex-AGF and his co-defendants begged the court to give them more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly siphoned.

They prayed the judge to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.(NAN)

News

APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

Published

21 minutes ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)

News

282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

Published

4 hours ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.

The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.

He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.

“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.

“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”

“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.

Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.

“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.

News

80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army

Published

5 hours ago

January 17, 2026

olalekan

80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the voluntary surrender of 80 militants in Cross River State under the amnesty programme of the state government.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Maj. Yemi Sokoya, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Sokoya said that the militants surrendered in the early hours of Friday, at Atimbo Rear Area, following Operation OKWOK, in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, within the area of responsibility of the 13 Brigade.

According to him, the repentant militants emerged from two camps, with one group led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presenting 39 fighters.

He said that the second camp, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, submitted 41 fighters.

Sokoya added that assorted arms, ammunition and other items, were also voluntarily surrendered during the exercise.

He said that these included: rifles, pump-action guns, single-barrel weapons, magazines, ammunition, speed boats, boat engines and other military-related equipment.

The Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Paul Alimikhena, described the development as a major confidence-building milestone.

He attributed it to sustained military operations, constructive engagement and effective collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies.

He said that the brigade would continue to provide a secure environment, while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at reintegrating repentant youths, and ensuring lasting peace across in the area.

The commander said that the surrendered militants had been handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team and were undergoing profiling by the state’s Department of State Services (DSS).

He commended the State Government, under Gov. Bassey Otu, for its commitment to peace and security.

He also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information. (NAN)