Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Returns ₦220m, Duplex To EFCC Over Alleged Fraud — Faces Fresh Forfeiture Action
A former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has returned ₦220 million and a high-end duplex to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following an ongoing investigation into alleged advanced fee fraud linked to his tenure in public office.
This was disclosed in an ex parte “non-conviction-based” motion filed by the EFCC and marked FHC/ABJ/177/2024, now pending before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The motion, which was slated for mention on Monday but was adjourned to October 22, 2025, seeks interim forfeiture of assets tied to the former AGF and related entities.
In the motion brought by EFCC counsel E. Iheanacho, SAN, the Commission is requesting the court to:
- Grant an interim forfeiture of various funds and properties listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of the application.
- Direct the publication of the interim order in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be granted in favour of the Federal Government.
The EFCC is seeking forfeiture of the following assets and funds:
- ₦12,526,206.55 in Temeeo Synergy Concept Ltd
- ₦4,102,570.25 in Turge Global Investment Ltd
- ₦682,904.36 in Laptev Bridge Ltd
- ₦51,279,067.53 in Arafura Transnational Afro Ltd
- ₦220,000,000.00 refunded by Nwabuoku to EFCC’s Recovery Account
- A five-bedroom standalone duplex at No. 20, City Gate Estate, Kukwaba, Abuja
According to the affidavit deposed by EFCC investigator Chinelo Okpara, Nwabuoku is under investigation for the alleged diversion of Internal Security Operations funds meant for the Nigerian Armed Forces while he served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence.
Okpara alleged that approximately ₦355 million was funneled through M Davi Company Enterprises, with contributions from various individuals, including one Mr. Joseph Gideon, between November 4, 2019, and September 5, 2020. These funds, the EFCC claimed, were for the benefit of the former AGF.
Nwabuoku, according to the EFCC, admitted in his extrajudicial statement to receiving and using parts of the funds, including ₦64 million to purchase the duplex now forfeited to the EFCC and ₦160 million for securities and investments.
The anti-graft agency invoked Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, which allows for non-conviction-based forfeiture of assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Iheanacho, SAN, emphasized that the motion does not require a criminal conviction and is aimed at preserving suspected illicit assets.
It is noteworthy that Nwabuoku is also facing a separate criminal trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja. In that matter, the EFCC has filed a nine-count amended charge against him bordering on alleged money laundering involving ₦868,465,000. He has pleaded not guilty, and the case is still ongoing.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General of the Federation on May 22, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris, who was also under EFCC investigation at the time. However, Nwabuoku himself soon came under scrutiny, leading to the refund of substantial sums and surrender of property now subject to judicial forfeiture.
The Federal High Court will resume proceedings on the interim forfeiture motion on October 22, 2025.
