A three-man panel of the Justices of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, has dismissed the bail application, filed by the convicted former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku for lack of merit.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja had on Monday, March 23, 2026 convicted and sentenced Nwabuoku to 72 years prison term in Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre, Abuja, for money laundering to the tune of N868.4 million.
He, however, appealed the judgment and sought to be admitted to bail on health grounds, pending the determination of the appeal.
Consequently, Nwabuoku on May 8, 2026, through his lawyer, N.1 Quakers, SAN, filed an application for bail on the ground of his alleged ill health, which he claimed had deteriorated and necessitating medical attention beyond what the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, designated for inmates of the Nigerian Medium Security Correctional Centre, Kuje Abuja can offer.
Nwabuoku in the application, stated that he was a responsible citizen who was the Acting Accountant General of the Federation and that he had credible sureties who could take him on bail.
Counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, in response, filed a counter-affidavit on May 25, 2026 arguing that the offences for which the appellant was convicted were serious in nature, having involved massive corruption that contributed in inhibiting the government from defeating the pervasive insecurity that is plaguing the country.
The EFCC counsel also noted that there was no medical evidence before the court to show that the appellant cannot continue to receive treatment, even surgery in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital while serving his sentence. According to the counsel, the fact that the appellant was confined in the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Center, Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital for medical evaluation showed that the authorities of the Correctional Service are proactive to his medical needs and have so far not denied him medical attention.
The EFCC counsel further argued that granting the appellant bail, pending the determination of his appeal will undermine public confidence in the administration of criminal justice. “Granting bail to the Appellant/Applicant in the circumstances of this case 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,” he said.
The panel in its decision on Friday, read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko held that the application was unmeritorious and dismissed the application accordingly.
(Ripples)