How Nwabuoku Diverted N868m From Defence Ministry
The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday heard startling revelations of how the former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, allegedly diverted over N868million from the Federal Ministry of Defence through questionable cash withdrawals and company accounts.
Testifying before Justice James Omotosho, Gudi Johnson, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recounted findings that formed the basis of a nine-count amended money laundering charge filed against Nwabuoku by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a statement released by the EFCC on Monday, Johnson said: “We discovered that one Gideon Joseph was registered as a director in these companies. His address was Louis Street, Maitama and Kubwa.
“We invited him to answer as to what business he carried out. All the letters could not be delivered, so we resorted to the Ministry of Defence.”
Johnson said further inquiry led to a director of accounts, Mr. Felix, who confessed to acting on Nwabuoku’s instructions: “Other persons were called and they said they were instructed to withdraw the monies they received into the accounts of Teemell, Touch Global and Transactional Afro Nig. Ltd.”
When questioned, Nwabuoku reportedly claimed the funds were meant for classified security operations.
“A committee was set up including Gen. Monguno, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, myself, Bellozi Adama from EFCC and others. We were told to investigate the matter,” Johnson testified.
He added: “As soon as funds were deposited into the Ministry’s accounts, it was diverted and withdrawn by Gideon Joseph. The cash withdrawn would be deposited by Gideon into the account of M. Daddy’s Ltd.”
Johnson also told the court: “One Jerry Nwachukwu came forward and confirmed that N355 million was deposited into M. Daddy’s Ltd account on Nwabuoku’s instructions.”
He revealed that N150million was later moved to Quantum Zenith Ltd, while N13 million was linked to a property purchase through El Salen Ltd and N10million used for a generator.
“We obtained records from City Gate Homes showing a property of N65 million linked to the defendant. We told him these are proceeds of crime which must be recovered. We inspected the house at City Gates Homes and seized the keys,” Johnson added.
When asked about the defendant’s declared assets, Johnson said: “We wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau and they said there was no information on his assets.”
The court admitted several documents into evidence, including letters from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Remita, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank. Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to May 22 and 23, 2025, for continuation of the hearing.
