A Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled hearing for December 2 to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AcGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, conclude their ongoing process for a plea bargain arrangement.
The EFCC had, on July 10, brought Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, before the court.
The planned arraignment was postponed when they appealed to the court to give them more time to refund what they were accused of stealing.
The defendants prayed the court to postpone their arraignment till another date to enable them make the refund.
The EFCC had filed an 11-count charge bordering on alleged laundering of N1.6 billion against the defendants.
They were alleged to have committed the offence when Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AG-F on May 20, 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AG-F over alleged N80 billion fraud.
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He was removed in July 2022, few weeks after he assumed office.
Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, was subsequently appointed to replace Nwabuoku as acting AG-F.
At the mention of the case yesterday, prosecuting lawyer Ogechi Ujam told the court that the parties were in the process of finalising a plea bargain arrangement between them.
Ujam said on the last adjourned date, Nwabuoku and Nweke submitted a proposal for such a settlement.
She said parties had agreed and the agreement had been submitted to EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede for approval.
The prosecuting lawyer prayed the court to grant an adjournment that would enable the parties to bring the agreement and an amended charge before the court.
Defence lawyers – Isidal Udenko (for Nwabuoku) and Emeka Onyeaka (for Nweke) – confirmed what Ujam said.
Ruling, Justice James Omotosho adjourned till December 2 for the adoption of the plea bargain agreement.
