EFCC exposes Ex-AGF’s multi-account scheme to loot public funds

A witness in the trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has revealed how the ex-AGF opened multiple bank accounts to misappropriate public funds.

According to reports, Anamekwe is facing trial on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering amounting to ₦868,465,000, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During Friday’s court proceedings, Eucharia Ezeobi, a Zenith Bank employee and the EFCC’s first witness (PW1), testified before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

She stated that she had opened four company accounts for contractors working with the Federal Ministry of Defence. These companies include Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.

Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ekene Iheanacho, Ezeobi disclosed that most of the withdrawals from these accounts were made in cash and that the defendant benefited from these transactions. The court admitted the account-opening documents as Exhibits PWB, as marked by Justice Omotosho.

The second witness for the EFCC (PW2), Felix Nweke, introduced himself as a director at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. He previously served as Deputy Director of Finance at the Federal Ministry of Defence between 2018 and 2020.

Nweke testified that he worked under Anamekwe, assisting in processing payments. He stated that the defendant instructed him to open company accounts to access funds. To fulfill this request, Nweke contacted Gideon Joseph, a ministry resource person, following the director’s directive to open the accounts with Zenith Bank.

He further recounted meeting Ezeobi at the bank, where she facilitated the account openings. He explained that he routinely received instructions from the director to raise funds or transfer money to various recipients and always complied.

During cross-examination, Nweke confirmed that the ministry’s funding is based on the Appropriation Bill signed by the President. While acknowledging that Anamekwe was not an approving officer in the ministry, he stated that the former AGF conveyed approvals for fund disbursement.