The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, ruled that former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, must enter his defence in the N868 million fraud case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice James Omotosho dismissed Nwabuoku’s no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to warrant the defendant’s response to the allegations of money laundering and diversion of public funds.
Nwabuoku is standing trial on nine amended counts bordering on laundering and diversion of ₦868,465,000, allegedly traced to unlawful transactions between the Ministry of Defence and several companies during his tenure as Director of Finance and Accounts.
Prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, argued that the case falls squarely under Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), insisting that the evidence before the court clearly links the defendant to the illicit transactions.
However, defence counsel Norrison Quakers, SAN, contended that the EFCC lacked the authority to prosecute and that the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain the charges.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that it was premature at this stage to assess the credibility of witnesses or weigh the strength of the prosecution’s case, noting that the EFCC had established a prima facie case requiring Nwabuoku’s defence.
“The no-case submission of the defendant therefore fails,” the judge declared.
The matter was adjourned to November 24, 2025, for continuation of trial.
