Former Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako, rtd, and his son, Senator Abdulaziz were on Monday re-arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N40bn fraud.
The former governor and his son were docked on a 37 count charge bordering on money laundering alongside two others, Zulkifik Abba and Abubakar Aliyu.
All accused persons were initially arraigned before the late Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same court on August 7, 2015, but the matter could not continue due to the death of the judge.
EFCC claimed that the defendants diverted funds from the Adamawa State treasury between January 2011 and December 2014 using five companies as a conduit pipes for the illegal act.
The anti-graft agency listed the five companies to include, the funds-Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited, all were equally charged before the court.
The commission alleged that all accused persons in their bid to conceal the illicit origin of the stolen funds, embarked Estates development in Abuja.
EFCC alleged that it was able to trace various cash lodgements that Nyako and his son made into various bank accounts they operated in the name of the companies that were indicted in the fraud.
But at today’s resumed trial, following the reassignment of the case, Justice Okon Abang, allowed the accused to enjoy the initial bail granted them by his deceased colleague.
Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Adebisi Adeniyi did not oppose the defendants’ request for bail on the previous terms, but prayed the court to compel their sureties to depose to a fresh affidavit.
However, Justice Abang in his ruling, rejected the application of the commission, saying granting same would amount to a variation of orders the deceased judge made with respect to bail of the defendants.
Justice Abang subsequently fixed November 17 and 21 for commencement of trial.
Reports earlier in the month had it that the Federal Government was set to file fraud charges against some former governors of which Nyako was a pet of.
留言