The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dealt a fresh blow to former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, dismissing his application for bail pending appeal and ruling that the request lacked merit.
The decision, delivered on Friday by a three-member panel of the Abuja Division of the appellate court, effectively keeps the former top government official behind bars as he continues his legal battle against his conviction for laundering N868,465,000 in public funds.
Nwabuoku was convicted on March 23, 2026, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, who sentenced him to a cumulative 72-year prison term to be served at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre after finding him guilty of multiple counts of money laundering.
Following the judgment, the former Accountant-General appealed both his conviction and sentence. He also sought to be released on bail pending the determination of the appeal, arguing that his deteriorating health required specialised medical treatment beyond what the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital—the designated referral hospital for inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje—could provide.
Through his counsel, N.I. Quakers, SAN, Nwabuoku told the court that he was a responsible citizen with a distinguished record of public service and had credible sureties willing to guarantee his appearance whenever required.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, strongly opposed the application, insisting that no exceptional circumstance existed to justify the grant of bail after conviction.
The anti-graft agency argued that the offences for which Nwabuoku was convicted were grave, involving the laundering of hundreds of millions of naira in public funds, and contended that such acts undermined the government’s capacity to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The EFCC further maintained that the appellant failed to provide convincing medical evidence showing that the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital was incapable of managing his condition. The prosecution noted that prison authorities had consistently ensured he received medical evaluation and treatment, demonstrating that his healthcare needs had not been neglected.
The Commission also warned that releasing the former Accountant-General on bail while his appeal was pending would erode public confidence in the criminal justice system and weaken the nation’s anti-corruption campaign.
According to the EFCC, granting bail in the circumstances would send the wrong message to Nigerians and diminish the resolve to combat corruption, money laundering and the diversion of public resources meant for national development and security.
In a unanimous decision read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, the three-man panel agreed with the prosecution, holding that the application lacked merit. The court consequently dismissed the bail request, leaving Nwabuoku to remain in custody while his appeal against the conviction and 72-year prison sentence proceeds.