Court To Rule April 30 On Final Forfeiture Of Ex-Acting AGF’s Property As EFCC Alleges N900m Defence Funds Diversion

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has fixed April 30, 2026 for ruling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) application seeking the final forfeiture of a property linked to former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.
At proceedings on Tuesday, defence counsel N.I. Quakers, SAN, informed the court of two applications: one seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order granted on January 27, 2025, and another preliminary objection dated August 15, 2025, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Quakers urged the court to discountenance the EFCC’s final forfeiture application, arguing that the property in question is already subject of a criminal trial in another court, thereby robbing the court of jurisdiction to entertain the forfeiture proceedings.
Responding, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, drew the court’s attention to a motion dated May 6, 2024, seeking a final forfeiture order. He submitted that the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime, adding that the application was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Chinyelu Vivian Okpara, an EFCC operative, with exhibits marked EFCC 1–7.
According to the prosecution, Nwabuoku, while serving as Director of Finance at the Ministry of Defence, allegedly diverted funds released for military operations against Boko Haram. “Part of the funds were diverted through fictitious accounts to the tune of N900 million,” Iheanacho told the court.
He further alleged that about N355 million was traced to the respondent through an account he nominated—M Davies Enterprises Ltd, owned by a friend—from which the disputed property was purchased. The EFCC added that Nwabuoku initially handed over the house keys and refunded part of the funds during investigation, but later challenged the forfeiture when court proceedings commenced.
The prosecution also referenced an additional affidavit filed on May 16, 2024, urging the court to grant the forfeiture application.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter to April 30, 2026, for ruling on all pending applications and judgment.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is also prosecuting Nwabuoku before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended nine-count charge of money laundering involving N868,465,000.