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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed April 30, 2026, to rule on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of a property owned by a former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution.
At the proceedings, defence counsel, N.I. Quakers, SAN, informed the court of an application seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order granted on January 27, 2025, as well as a notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
Quakers argued that the property in question is part of the subject of a separate criminal trial against his client in another court and urged the judge to dismiss the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
In response, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, referred to a motion dated May 6, 2024, in which the EFCC sought the final forfeiture of the property, stating that it was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
According to the prosecution, the application is supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Chinyelu Vivian Okpara, with several documentary exhibits.
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Iheanacho told the court that Nwabuoku, while serving as Director of Finance in the Ministry of Defence, allegedly received part of funds meant for military operations against Boko Haram.
He said about N900 million was diverted through fictitious accounts, with approximately N355 million allegedly traced to Nwabuoku through an account belonging to a company, M Davies Enterprises Ltd, which was used to purchase the disputed property.
The prosecution further claimed that the former official had earlier handed over the keys of the house and refunded part of the funds during the investigation but later challenged the forfeiture.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to April 30, 2026, for ruling on the applications.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is also prosecuting Nwabuoku before another Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering involving the sum of N868.465 million.
