The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Nnabuoku, to March 13, 2025.
Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho postponed proceedings following the absence of the defendant’s newly appointed lead counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN).
Nnabuoku, currently serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence, is facing a nine-count amended charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N868.4 million money laundering scheme.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, EFCC counsel Ekene Iheanacho (SAN) stated that the prosecution was ready to continue the trial, with six additional witnesses prepared to testify. However, defense counsel Isidore Udenko informed the court that he had been debriefed as lead counsel, with Quakers now taking over. He further disclosed that the defendant was considering a plea bargain with the EFCC, necessitating a request for an adjournment.
Justice Omotosho questioned Udenko on his role in the legal team, to which he responded: “I am part of the team, but at this point, I am under superior authority. I wish my Lord can understand my helpless state.”
The judge warned that the court would not grant further adjournments, emphasizing the need for diligence in the proceedings. Meanwhile, the prosecution, while expressing concerns over the difficulty in bringing witnesses to court, did not oppose the adjournment, citing the interest of justice.
The EFCC had previously re-arraigned Nnabuoku on January 15, 2025, in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024. According to the agency, between September 2019 and October 2020, Nnabuoku allegedly conspired with four companies—Temero Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, LAPTEV Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited—to launder over N1.96 billion, using the funds to acquire properties in Abuja.
The trial is now set to resume on March 13, 2025.
