Manny Ita –
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to lift all restrictions placed on N220 million and several properties linked to former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
Justice Umar Mohammed ruled that the EFCC’s non-conviction forfeiture suit amounted to an abuse of court process because the same assets were already part of an ongoing criminal matter before another Federal High Court judge, Justice James Omotosho.
The court held that the anti-graft agency failed to justify why the assets should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government while the related criminal proceedings had already reached an advanced stage.
In his ruling, Justice Umar questioned whether it was proper for the court to finally forfeit assets that were simultaneously being examined in a criminal trial. He subsequently discharged the interim forfeiture order earlier granted against the assets and directed the EFCC to immediately remove all embargoes and controls on the affected funds and properties.
The judge further restrained the Commission from taking any action that could interfere with Nwabuoku’s ownership rights over the assets.
The case stemmed from EFCC investigations into alleged fraud and money laundering involving the former AGF. The Commission had earlier claimed that Nwabuoku refunded N220 million and voluntarily relinquished a five-bedroom duplex in Abuja during investigations.
According to the EFCC, the funds were linked to suspicious transactions routed through several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited and Arafura Transnational Afro Ltd.
The anti-corruption agency had also alleged that N355 million was paid into an account linked to M Davi Company Enterprises for Nwabuoku’s benefit between 2019 and 2020, with part of the money allegedly used to acquire a duplex in City Gate Estate, Kukwaba, Abuja, and to fund investments.
However, Nwabuoku’s legal team argued that the assets targeted in the forfeiture proceedings were already listed in the criminal charges before Justice Omotosho, making the separate forfeiture application procedurally defective.
The ruling comes weeks after Justice Omotosho convicted Nwabuoku in a separate EFCC money laundering case involving about N868 million. The court had also approved the forfeiture of assets reportedly valued at over N1.9 billion, including shares, cash and properties linked to the former public official.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant General of the Federation in May 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari following the suspension of Ahmed Idris, who was also under EFCC investigation.
