RismadarVoice Reporters
November 13, 2026
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reportedly dismissed an appeal filed by former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, challenging his conviction and sentence for money laundering involving ₦868.465 million.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, November 13, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Ele-Ojo Enenche, upheld the March 23 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Federal High Court had convicted Nwabuoku on nine counts of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a cumulative 72 years. However, the trial court ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
According to the account of Friday’s judgment, the appellate court dismissed all four issues raised by Nwabuoku in challenging his conviction.
The court reportedly rejected his argument concerning the voluntariness of his extra-judicial statements, holding that the evidence established that the statements were obtained voluntarily.
It also affirmed that the trial court properly evaluated the prosecution’s evidence and that the EFCC had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The appellate court further upheld the commission’s statutory authority to investigate and prosecute the offences.
Nwabuoku was convicted by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court after the prosecution established that funds intended for activities at the Ministry of Defence had been diverted through corporate accounts.
The offences were linked to his previous position as Director of Finance and Accounts at the ministry.
Following his conviction, Nwabuoku challenged the judgment and separately applied for bail pending appeal, citing health concerns and the need for specialised medical treatment.
The EFCC opposed the application, arguing that the seriousness of the offences and the circumstances of his conviction did not justify his release.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the bail application in July 2026.
Following Friday’s reported ruling on the substantive appeal, the Federal High Court’s conviction and sentence remain in effect.
The decision does not necessarily mean Nwabuoku must serve 72 consecutive years, as the original sentencing order directed that the nine eight-year terms run concurrently.
The reported appellate judgment represents another stage in the proceedings, although any further challenge would depend on the applicable legal procedures.
