The trial of a former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly stealing state funds to the tune of N1.64bn during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007 continued on Thursday, November 12, 2015 before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of an FCT High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, with the agency stating that, the statement of the accused was voluntarily obtained.
Ishaq Salihu, an operative of EFCC, stated this while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, from the chambers of Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.
Salihu was one of the investigators that took the statement of the accused sometime in July, 2007.
Answering questions during cross-examination by the defence, Sikiru Adewoye representing Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Salihu told the court that the accused’s statement was voluntarily rendered and obtained in a professional manner.
According to him, EFCC, as a law enforcement agency, had great respect for professionalism and would not do anything to either undermine people’s right or the rule of law.
Salihu’s testimony brings to a close the prosecution’s case in respect of the trial-within-trial, setting the stage for the defence to present their witnesses.
Justice Banjoko adjourned the case to November 18, 2015 for Nyame’s counsel to present his witnesses.
The judge further ruled that, the defence should be prepared to conclude their defence on the said adjourned date.
Nyame is facing a 41-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of state funds. .
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