How Ex-AGF Diverted Defence Ministry Funds, Witnesses Tell Court

A witness in the trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the ex-AGF opened multiple bank accounts to divert public funds.

Anamekwe, who was Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Defence, is facing trial on a nine-count amended charge of money laundering to the tune of N868,465,000 brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At Friday’s proceedings, EFCC presented the agency’s first witness (PW1), Eucharia Ezeobi, a Zenith Bank staff member, who disclosed that she opened four company accounts for contractors with the Federal Ministry of Defence.

According to her, the four companies include Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.

Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ezeobi disclosed that most withdrawals from the accounts were in cash, adding that the defendant benefited from them.

Iheanacho tendered the accounts opening packages before the court and they were marked as Exhibits PWB by Justice Omotosho.

Also, the EFCC’s second witness (PW2), Felix Nweke, identified himself as a director at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. He said he was the deputy Director, Finance, Federal Ministry of Defence between 2018 and 2020.

Nweke said he worked under the defendant and his job was to facilitate payments. The witness told the court that the defendant asked him to open company accounts to be able to access funds.

He mentioned being in contact with Gideon Joseph, who was a resource person to the ministry, stating they were instructed by the director to open the accounts with Zenith Bank.

Nweke narrated that he met Ezeobi at the bank and she opened accounts for them, stating that he always receives instruction from the Director to raise funds or make transfers to people and would normally oblige.

He stated that there was no clear provision for welfare in the Ministry of Defence, so there was no way to trace what the funds were used for, adding that he was being asked to disguise the names of the beneficiaries in some cases.

During cross-examination, Nweke said the ministry is funded by the Appropriation Bill signed by the President. He admitted that Anamekwe is not an approving officer in the ministry but conveys the approval for the release of funds.

Counsel for the defendant, Isidore Udenko asked him if the withdrawals were initiated by the defendant alone or if there was an authority higher than him. Nweke said he only took instructions from the defendant, who was his boss in the ministry’s chain of command.

At the end of cross-examination, Justice Omotosho adjourned till February 26 and March 5 for continuation of trial.

The EFCC had on January 15 re-arraigned Nwabuoku on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering and abuse of office.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, dated and filed on November 27, 2024, named Nnabuoku as the sole defendant.

The EFCC alleged that Nnabuoku, alongside four other companies, Temero Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, LAPTEV Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited and other persons (all at large), between September 2019 and October 2020, conspired to convert funds which are proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing an offence 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.

According to the anti-graft agency, the companies were used by Nnabuoku to launder N1,964,743,584.73bn which were either saved or further used to purchase properties within Abuja.

Some of the counts read, “That you CHUKWUNYERE ANAMEKWE NNABUOKU on or about the 24th of September, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly used the sum of N64m out of the total sum of N355m paid into the Zenith Bank Ple account of M Davi Company Enterprises on your behalf to purchase property known as No. 20 City Gate Estate Kukwaba, Abuja knowing that the funds constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).

“That you CHUKWUNYERE ANAMEKWE NNABUOKU between December 2019 and October, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly used the aggregate sum of N160m out of the total sum of N355m paid into the Zenith Bank Plc account of M Davi Company Enterprises on your behalf for purchase of securities through Quantum Zenith Securities and Investment Ltd for the purchase of shares knowing that the funds constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) and punishable under section 153) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012)

“That you CHUKWUNYERE ANAMEKWE NNABUOKU between July, 2018 and May, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted into securities the aggregate sum of N513m deposited into your account with Quantum Zenith Securities and Investment Ltd knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(b) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012)”, the charges read.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to all nine counts.

Justice Omotosho granted Nwabuoku N500m bail with two sureties who must own properties within the court’s jurisdiction worth at least N250m.

How Ex-AGF Diverted Defence Ministry Funds, Witnesses Tell Court is first published on The Whistler Newspaper