Former federal acting accountant-general Anamekwe Nwabuoku has once more asked for more time to negotiate a plea agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nwabuoku faces a nine-count amended allegation of N868.5 million in money laundering.
In July 2023, he was initially tried before a federal high court in Abuja with Felix Nweke, a former deputy director in the Ministry of Defence.
During Nwabuoku’s tenure as the Ministry of Defense’s director of finance and accounting from 2019 to 2021, the defendants are accused of committing the crime.
After the two defendants chose a plea deal and requested time to return the allegedly embezzled money, the arraignment was first postponed.
While the plea deal ultimately collapsed, Nweke later became a prosecution witness, and the trial proceeded.
At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho informed the court that five witnesses were ready to testify.
However, Nwabuoku, represented by Isidore Udenko, told the court he had engaged a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to help negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the EFCC.
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Iheanacho said the prosecution was not opposed to the request by the defendant.
“Even though our five witnesses are in court and we are ready to go on with the trial, however, if the request of the defendant will meet the justice of the case, we will not be opposing,” the prosecution counsel said.
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, adjourned the case until March 13 for either a report on the settlement or the continuation of the trial.
