A Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled hearing for December 2 to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke conclude their ongoing process for a plea bargain arrangement.
The EFCC had, on July 10, brought Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, before the court.
The plannned arraignment was postponed when they appealed to the court to give them more time to refund what they were accused of stealing.
They prayed the court to postpone their arraignment till another date to enable them make the refund.
The EFCC had filed an 11-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 against them, in which they are accused of laundering N1.6 billion fraud.
They were alleged to have committed the offence when Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AG-F on May 20, 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was, however, removed in July 2022, few weeks after he assumed office.
Sylva Okolieaboh, a Director at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Department, was subsequently appointed to replace Nwabuoku as acting AG-F.
At the mention of the case on Monday, prosecuting lawyer, Ogechi Ujam told the court that parties were in the process of finalising a plea bargain arrangement between them.
Ujam said on the last adjourned date, Nwabuoku and Nweke submitted proposal for settlement.
She said parties have agreed and the agreement has been submitted to the EFCC’s Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, for approval.
The prosecuting lawyer then prayed that court to grant an adjournment to enable parties bring the agreement and an amended charge before the court.
Defence lawyers – Isidal Udenko (forNwabuoku) and Emeka Onyeaka (for Nweke) – confirmed what Ujam said.
Ruling, Justice James Omotosho adjourned till December 2 for the adoption of plea bargain agreement.