BREAKING: Court Sentences Former Ex-AGF to 72-Year Jail Term Over N868m Fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to a combined 72 years in prison over an N868 million fraud case prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judgment, delivered on Monday, marks a dramatic conclusion to a high-profile corruption trial that has spanned months of legal arguments, defence testimonies, and multiple court rulings.

Nwabuoku was convicted on charges bordering on money laundering involving about N868.4 million, funds the EFCC said were proceeds of unlawful activities during his time in public office.

Details of the ruling indicate that the sentence runs cumulatively across multiple counts, reflecting the gravity of the offences established by the court.

The anti-graft agency had earlier arraigned Nwabuoku on a nine-count charge, accusing him of conspiring with companies to divert and launder public funds.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that the former government official used his position to facilitate illicit financial flows, while the defence maintained his innocence, insisting he had no direct links to some of the firms allegedly involved.

At one point in the proceedings, Nwabuoku urged the court to clear him of wrongdoing, describing his record as an “unblemished 35-year career.”

The presiding judge, however, found the evidence presented by the EFCC sufficient to secure a conviction, having earlier ruled that a prima facie case had been established against the former accountant-general.

The case had drawn significant public attention, not only because of the large sum involved but also due to Nwabuoku’s former role as one of Nigeria’s top financial administrators.

Legal analysts say the verdict reinforces the judiciary’s stance on corruption, particularly in high-level public office cases, while also sending a strong signal about accountability in the management of public funds.