The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed April 30, 2026, for ruling on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of a property linked to the former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
Justice Mohammed Umar set the date after hearing arguments from both parties on Tuesday.
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, alongside a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
He urged the court to discountenance the EFCC’s application, arguing that the property forms part of matters already before another court in a related criminal trial.
Responding, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the EFCC motion for final forfeiture, dated May 6, 2024, was properly before the court and grounded in evidence.
He said the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
“My Lord, the respondent was at the material time the Director of Finance in the Ministry of Defence,” Iheanacho said. “Funds released strictly for military operations against Boko Haram were partly diverted through fictitious accounts to the tune of about N900 million.”
According to the prosecution, about N355 million allegedly traced to the respondent was routed through an account he nominated, belonging to M Davies Enterprises Ltd, and used to purchase the property now under forfeiture.
“It was from that account that the property in question was purchased, and it is the same property the defendant is currently living in,” Iheanacho added. “During investigation, the defendant voluntarily handed over the keys to the house and refunded part of the funds.
“Surprisingly, after these proceedings commenced, he turned around to challenge the forfeiture. We urge the court to grant the application.”
The prosecution also relied on an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by EFCC operative Chinyelu Vivian Okpara, with exhibits marked EFCC 1 to EFCC 7, as well as a further affidavit filed on May 16, 2024.
After hearing both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to April 30, 2026 for ruling on the applications and judgment.
Separately, the EFCC is prosecuting Nwabuoku on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering involving N868,465,000 before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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