The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwuyenre Anamekwe Nwabuoku, in his ongoing trial for alleged money laundering offences.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had presented sufficient evidence establishing a prima facie case against the defendant, warranting that he enters his defence.
The court ruled that the arguments raised by the defence were not strong enough to discharge the accused of the allegations, stressing that at this stage, the court’s duty was not to determine guilt but to ascertain whether the prosecution had presented credible evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crimes.
Justice Omotosho stated that from the testimonies of witnesses and documentary evidence tendered, the EFCC had demonstrated enough grounds to invite the defendant to explain his role in the alleged diversion and laundering of public funds amounting to ₦868 million.
Following the ruling, the former acting Accountant-General was directed to open his defence on the next adjourned date.
Nwabuoku is standing trial on multiple counts bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and abuse of office, allegedly committed during his tenure in public service. The prosecution alleges that he misused his position to divert public funds through suspicious transactions and private accounts, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
During previous proceedings, the defence had filed a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution failed to establish any direct link between the defendant and the alleged offences. The EFCC, however, urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting that overwhelming evidence had been presented to support the charges.
The court agreed with the EFCC’s position, ruling that the evidence before it required explanation from the defendant. Justice Omotosho thereafter adjourned the matter to a later date for the opening of the defence, signalling the continuation of a high-profile case that has drawn public attention to accountability within Nigeria’s public finance management system.
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