The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has informed a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja of its plan to settle out of court in a subsisting N1.6 billion fraud matter against a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, pending before the court.
Counsel to the anti-graft body, Ogechi Ujam, informed the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho upon resumed hearing on Monday of its resolve to opt for plea bargain agreement with the defendant.
When the matter was called, Ujam told the court that on the last adjourned date, Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, had submitted proposal for settlement out of court.
She said the parties in the charge had agreed and that the agreement had been submitted to the EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for approval.
The lawyer to the EFCC then asked the court for a date to file the agency’s plea bargain agreement and amend the charge of the defendants.
In the same vein, Nwabuoku’s lawyer, Isidal Udenko, and Emeka Onyeaka, who represented Nweke, also admitted opting for a plea bargain.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter till December 2 for the adoption of a plea bargain agreement.
Recall that the anti-graft agency had preferred an 11-count money laundering charge against the duo.
Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are being prosecuted for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.
While Nwabuoku is the 1st defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed May 27 by Ekele Iheanacho, Nweke is the 2nd defendant.
