A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 30 April 2026 for a ruling on an application by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency seeking the final forfeiture of a property linked to a former Acting Accountant General of the Federation.
Justice Mohammed Umar, sitting in Maitama, adjourned the matter after hearing arguments from both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and lawyers representing Mr Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
At Tuesday’s hearing, defence counsel, N.I. Quakers (SAN), told the court that two applications had been filed: one seeking to set aside an interim forfeiture order granted on 27 January 2025, and another raising a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
The defence argued that the property in question is already the subject of a separate criminal trial and urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture on that basis.
Responding, the EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), referred the court to a motion dated 6 May 2024 seeking final forfeiture of the property. He said the commission reasonably suspects the property was acquired with proceeds of crime.
According to the prosecution, the application is supported by an affidavit sworn by an EFCC operative, Chinyelu Vivian Okpara, along with several documentary exhibits.
Mr Iheanacho told the court that Mr Nwabuoku was, at the time of the alleged transactions, Director of Finance at the Ministry of Defence.
He said funds released for military operations against Boko Haram were partially diverted through fictitious accounts, amounting to about ₦900m.
He added that about ₦355m allegedly traced to Mr Nwabuoku passed through an account belonging to a company, M Davies Enterprises Ltd, which he allegedly nominated, and that the disputed property was purchased with money from that account.
The prosecution further claimed that during the investigation, Mr Nwabuoku handed over the keys to the property and refunded part of the funds, but later challenged the forfeiture when court proceedings began.
After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the case to 30 April 2026 for ruling.
Separately, the EFCC is prosecuting Mr Nwabuoku before another Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering involving ₦868.5m.
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