N868m Money Laundering: Court Dismisses Nwabuoku’s Appeal Against 72-Year Jail Term
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by a former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, challenging his conviction and 72-year imprisonment for money laundering involving N868,465,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Naira).
Justice Ele-Ojo Enenche, who delivered the lead judgment on Friday, November 13, 2026, on behalf of a three-member panel, held that the appeal lacked merit after resolving all four issues raised for determination against the appellant.
The appellate court upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which convicted Nwabuoku on all nine counts of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In considering whether Nwabuoku's extra-judicial statements were voluntarily made, the Court of Appeal resolved the issue in favour of the EFCC, holding that the evidence before it established that the statements were voluntarily obtained.
On the issue of whether the trial court properly evaluated the evidence presented before it, the appellate court held that the lower court had thoroughly and correctly evaluated the evidence against the appellant.
Similarly, on whether the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt on all nine counts, the court held that the EFCC successfully discharged the burden of proof required by law and proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also considered the appellant's challenge to the EFCC's statutory competence to prosecute the case. It resolved the issue against Nwabuoku, affirming that the Commission possessed the requisite statutory powers to investigate and prosecute the offences.
Consequently, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit, thereby affirming the conviction and judgment of the Federal High Court.
EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Ihenacho, SAN, who led the EFCC legal team commended the court for upholding justice in the case.
Recall that Hon. Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, had, on Monday, March 23, 2026, convicted and sentenced Nwabuoku to 72 years' imprisonment for laundering N868,465,000.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Nwabuoku approached the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction. The convict, through his counsel, N.I. Quakers, SAN, filed a bail application on May 8, 2026, claiming that his health had deteriorated and required medical attention beyond what was available at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, designated to provide medical services to inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service's Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja.
In the application, Nwabuoku described himself as a responsible citizen who had served as Acting Accountant-General of the Federation. He also argued that he had credible sureties willing to take responsibility for his release on bail.
However, EFCC opposed the application through a counter-affidavit on May 25, 2026. It was argued by the Commission that the offences for which Nwabuoku was convicted were serious, involving substantial public funds meant for national security for the fight against insurgents and undermining accountability in the management of government resources.
The Commission further submitted that granting the application under the circumstances would send the wrong signal to the public and undermine confidence in the fight against corruption, money laundering, insurgency and the misuse of public funds.
The prosecution also maintained that the gravity of the offences and the circumstances surrounding the conviction did not warrant the exercise of the court's discretion in favour of the applicant.
The bail application was subsequently dismissed for lacking in merit.
With Friday's decision, the Court of Appeal has affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed on Nwabuoku by the Federal High Court.
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