The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected a bail request by Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, who is currently serving a prison term for fraud.
Nwabuoku was sentenced on March 23 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to 72 years in prison after being found guilty of laundering N868.4 million. He was convicted on all nine counts, with each attracting an eight-year sentence to run concurrently.
The EFCC said Nwabuoku, through his lawyer Norrison Quakers, filed an appeal on May 8 and asked to be released on bail on health grounds while the appeal is heard. He told the court his condition was worsening and that the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, where Kuje Correctional Centre inmates are treated, could not provide the care he needed.
EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho opposed the application. In a counter-affidavit filed May 25, he argued that Nwabuoku’s offences involved large-scale corruption that affected government efforts on national security. He also said there was no medical proof that the appellant could not continue treatment, including surgery, at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. Iheanacho added that records from Kuje showed the prison had not denied Nwabuoku medical attention.
According to the EFCC, granting bail would “send a wrong signal to the public and undermine confidence in the fight against corruption, money laundering and the misuse of public funds earmarked for national security.”
On Friday, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed the bail application for lack of merit. Nwabuoku will remain in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his appeal.
