Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, a former appearing Accountant-Normal of the Federation, on Monday urged the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja to clear him of all allegations within the N868.46 million fraud case instituted in opposition to him by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC).
Nwabuoku made the plea whereas presenting his defence earlier than Justice James Omotosho, following the court docket’s ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring him to answer the costs.
He testified as the primary defence witness below examination by his counsel, Norrison Quakers, SAN.
The EFCC is prosecuting the previous accounting chief on a nine-count cost bordering on alleged cash laundering involving N868.46 million.
Justice Omotosho had, on November 13, 2025, rejected Nwabuoku’s no-case submission, holding that the anti-graft company had supplied enough proof to warrant him to open his defence.
The choose clarified that the ruling didn’t quantity to a discovering of guilt, stressing that the defendant remained presumed harmless and was entitled to totally current his case.
Whereas giving proof, Nwabuoku denied any involvement with a number of corporations the EFCC claimed had been used to launder funds. The companies embody Temeeo Synergy Idea Restricted, Turge World Funding Restricted, Laptev Bridge Restricted and Arafura Transnational Afro Restricted.
In keeping with him, he neither signed paperwork nor appeared as a signatory within the account-opening data of the businesses tendered by the prosecution.
Responding to questions on his relationship with Chief Jerry Nwachukwu, a prosecution witness, Nwabuoku acknowledged realizing him as a contractor registered with the Ministry of Defence previous to his appointment as Director of Finance and Accounts.
He additionally rejected claims that Nwachukwu bought a property on his behalf at CityGate, Abuja, insisting that he personally acquired the property and dealt with all associated transactions.
He stated the receipts and possession paperwork bear his identify.
Nwabuoku additional instructed the court docket that he was neither a director nor a shareholder in any firm linked to Nwachukwu.
He added that his 35-year public service profession was with out blemish, noting that Nwachukwu himself had testified that he had no motive to doubt his integrity.
Addressing the problem of a N220 million refund referenced by the prosecution, Nwabuoku defined that the matter arose from a separate investigation on the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Adviser, the place officers queried a private funding traced to him.
He stated the funds had been official proceeds from investments, including that he earns at the very least N70 million yearly in dividends, that are mirrored in his financial institution and inventory data.
He additionally confirmed a forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC in a associated civil go well with whereas the prison trial was ongoing.
The court docket admitted the forfeiture order as Exhibit DW-H with out objection from the prosecution.
On the shut of his testimony, Nwabuoku formally requested the court docket to discharge and acquit him of all expenses.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till February 10 for continuation of listening to, when the EFCC is predicted to cross-examine the defendant.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on January 15, 2025, and granted bail within the sum of N500 million with two sureties. He’s the only defendant within the cost marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024.
Within the first rely, the EFCC alleged that he conspired with a number of corporations and different individuals presently at massive to transform proceeds of illegal actions, opposite to the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The alleged offences had been stated to have been dedicated between 2019 and 2021 throughout his tenure as Director of Finance and Accounts on the Ministry of Defence.
Nwabuoku was appointed Performing Accountant-Normal in Could 2022 following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud, however was changed weeks later amid stories that he was below EFCC investigation.
The prosecution closed its case after calling 9 witnesses, together with financial institution officers and civil servants, to testify in opposition to him.
