Appeal Court rejects jailed former accountant-general’s bail request

Nigeria's Court of Appeal has denied the bail application of Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, who is currently serving a prison sentence for laundering approximately N868.5 million.

The appellate court's three-member panel, in a ruling delivered on Friday, found Nwabuoku's application to be without merit. The decision, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, supported the opposition presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had argued that Nwabuoku failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for his release pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction. The commission's Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the court's decision.

Nwabuoku was sentenced to eight years in prison by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 23, after being found guilty of the money laundering charges. He had briefly served as the Acting Accountant-General of the Federation in 2022, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris, who was under investigation by the EFCC for alleged corruption. Nwabuoku's own tenure was short-lived, lasting less than two months before he was removed amid an EFCC investigation into separate allegations of financial misconduct.

The EFCC had prosecuted Nwabuoku on an amended nine-count charge, alleging he laundered public funds between 2019 and 2021 while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence. Following his conviction, Nwabuoku sought bail on health grounds, claiming his medical condition had worsened in custody and required specialized treatment unavailable at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, the designated facility for inmates at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.

His legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) N.I. Quakers, filed the bail application on May 8, asserting Nwabuoku's status as a responsible citizen and former public official, and claiming he had credible sureties ready to ensure his appearance in court. However, the EFCC, represented by SAN Ekele Iheanacho, countered the application, arguing that the offenses were serious, involving substantial public funds and impacting the government's ability to address national security challenges. The commission also contended that no medical evidence proved Nwabuoku could not receive necessary treatment, including surgery, at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital while serving his sentence.

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Mr Nwabuoku’s application lacked merit.