N868m Fraud: Court Jails Ex-Accountant-General Nwabuoku for 72 Years

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted and sentenced former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, to 72 years in prison without an option of fine.

Delivering judgment on Monday, March 23, 2026, Justice James Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved the nine-count charge of money laundering beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho found Nwabuoku guilty on all nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment on each count, bringing the total to 72 years. The court, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
The judge described Nwabuoku’s diversion of funds meant for security and defence during his tenure as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence as “appalling,” and commended the EFCC for its thorough prosecution.
He further noted that evidence from the ninth prosecution witness—that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded over N200 million during investigation—was not challenged by the defence.
Nwabuoku had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties after his arraignment on January 15, 2025, on a nine-count amended charge.
The EFCC listed him as the sole defendant in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, alleging that he committed the offences between 2019 and 2021 while serving in the Ministry of Defence.