Court adjourns alleged ₦868.4m fraud trial, fixes Feb. 10 for cross-examination of Former Acting AGF

Michael Olumide

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on February 2, 2026, fixed February 10, 2026, for the cross-examination of a former acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Dele Oyewale, the Commission, is prosecuting Nwabuoku on a nine-count amended charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868m.

The former acting AGF, who is the First Defence Witness, DW1 and defendant in the trial, while being led in evidence by his counsel N. l Quakers, SAN, stated that he was invited by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he made statements.

While denying the allegations of money laundering and fraud levelled against him, he prayed the court to discharge and acquit him of all the charges.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till February 10, 2026, for his cross-examination by the prosecution.

While, Uyo Zonal Directorate on Thursday, arraigned Victor Ekpong Thompson before Justice Maureen Adaobi of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo for allegedly defrauding some Americans of the sum of $525. 276.

Thompson was arraigned on eight-count charges for allegedly obtaining the above sum from his victims under the guise of helping them to invest in mineral resources and deep-sea port business.

The defendant allegedly defrauded some Americans, including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen and a few others.

One of the charges reads, “that you, Victor Ekpeyong Thompson, on or between April, 2024 to December, 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of $213,350 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others (Joint unsuspecting investors), under the pretence of investing the money in mining of mineral resources and deep sea port business, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act’.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to them.

Following his plea of ‘not guilty’, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin prayed the court for a trial date and remand of the defendant in the Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case.

However, defence counsel, Savn Daniel, made an oral bail application, to which the prosecution objected.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Adaobi adjourned the matter to March 19, 2026, for the determination of bail and commencement of trial while, the defendant was remanded at the EFCC’s detention facility in Uyo