THE Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, seeking to be granted bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.
News Point Nigeria reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja had, on March 23, sentenced Nwabuoku to 72 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of money laundering and fraud involving N868.4 million.
Delivering judgment in the case, Justice James Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had successfully proved its case against the former acting accountant-general.
The trial judge convicted Nwabuoku on all nine counts brought against him and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment on each count.
Justice Omotosho, however, ordered that the sentences, which amount to a total of 72 years, should run concurrently.
In a statement issued on Friday, the EFCC disclosed that Nwabuoku, through his counsel, Norrison Quakers, filed an appeal against the judgment on May 8 and simultaneously sought bail on health grounds pending the determination of the appeal.
According to the application, the former acting accountant-general argued that his health had deteriorated and that he required specialised medical care beyond what the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital—the designated medical facility for inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre—could provide.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, filed a counter-affidavit on May 25, contending that the offences for which Nwabuoku was convicted involved large-scale corruption that had undermined government efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
The anti-graft agency further argued that no medical evidence had been presented before the court to establish that the appellant could not continue receiving treatment, including surgery, at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
Iheanacho maintained that Nwabuoku’s detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre and his medical evaluation at the teaching hospital demonstrated that the correctional authorities had been responsive to his health needs and had not denied him access to medical attention.
The EFCC counsel also submitted that granting bail to the former acting accountant-general pending the determination of his appeal would erode 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,” Iheanacho argued.
Ruling on the application on Friday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, dismissed Nwabuoku’s request for bail for lacking merit.