Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud

Former accountant-general Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison. Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.

Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.

He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.

The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.

The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.

Court

Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.

But Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.

Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery

Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.

The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.

The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”

In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.

Jail

Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.

The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.

EFCC Boss Olukoyede Charges DNFBPs On SCUML Compliance In South-East

In its bid to frontally combat money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on operators of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs in the South-East to comply with mandatory registration under the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.

He made this call recently on a live Radio programme at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service where he explained the importance of the SCUML certificate for businesses operating within the non-financial sector.

The Executive Chairman, who was represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Promise Oluigbo, Head of SCUML Department in Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission noted that SCUML is responsible for the registration, regulation, monitoring and supervision of DNFBPs as provided for under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“DNFBPs are categories of businesses identified under Section 30 of the Money Laundering Act and include sectors such as automobile dealerships, real estate businesses, construction firms, hospitality services, supermarkets, legal practitioners, consultants, and non-profit organizations.’

“ As a regulatory body responsible for overseeing the activities of these businesses in order to curb money laundering and financing of terrorism, it’s important I say it here that the registration process is completely free. Business owners do not need to engage any third party. All they need to do is visit the SCUML portal and complete the registration process”, he said.

According to him, with the introduction of electronic certification which has improved efficiency and eliminated the risk of fake certificates, over 480,000 (Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand ) entities have been registered nationwide. He warned members of the public against engaging agents who charge fees for SCUML registration, stressing that the Commission does not authorize third-party registrations. “The EFCC frowns at any individual or group collecting money from businesses under the guise of facilitating SCUML registration. The process is seamless and free of charge”, he said.

Ola Olukoyede

While emphasizing on the need for businesses to register and collect the certificate, Olukoyede enjoined them to ensue adherence to statutory requirements such as Know Your Customer, KYC procedures, customer due diligence, record keeping and reporting of suspicious transactions, adding that failure to comply constitutes a violation of the law and may attract fines, imprisonment or other regulatory sanctions as stipulated under the Act.

“The objective of the SCUML framework is not to stifle businesses but to protect the financial system and ensure transparency in commercial activities.

It is designed to safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system”, he said.