- Orders him to enter defence
A Federal High Court in Abuja has overruled the no-case submission filed by a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AG-F), Chukwuyenre Anamekwe Nwabuoku, in his ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling yesterday, held that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against Nwabuoku to warrant his being called upon to enter his defence.
Nwabuoku is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money laundering related charges, involving about N868 million.
Justice Omotosho held that by overruling the defendant’s no-case submission did not imply that he has been found guilty of the charge.
He said at the stage, the court was not required to assess the evidence led by the prosecution, but to only decide whether or not a prima facie case has been established against the defendant to warrant his being invited to present a defence.
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The judge held that in this case, the prosecution has led sufficient evidence that established a prima facie case against the ex-acting AG-F to require the court to request him to enter his defence in the case.
He adjourned till November 24 for Nwabuoku to open his defence.
The defendant’s lawyer, Norison Quakers (SAN) had, while arguing the no-case submission, contended that all the evidence led by the prosecution and the exhibits it tendered are insufficient to establish a prima facie case against his client.
Quakers urged the court to uphold Nwabuoku’s no-case submission and acquit him.
Prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) argued otherwise and prayed the court to dismiss Nwabuoku’s no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence.
Iheanacho stated that the evidence led so far by the prosecution, through the nine witnesses, and exhibits tendered, have sufficiently established a prima facie case against the defendant to warrant him to enter a defence.
Nwabuoku is listed as the sole defendant in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024 on which he is being prosecuted by the EFCC.
The EFCC alleged, in count one, 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, said to be 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.
Nwabuoku was alleged to have committed the offence while he served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence, between 2019 and 2021.
