A former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, on Wednesday told an FCT High Court in Gudu that the statement he purportedly made at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2007 was under duress.
Nyame stated this at the resumed hearing in his trial by the EFCC on a 41-count charge of misappropriation of state funds amounting to N1.64 billion while he was the governor of Taraba State between 1999 and 2007.
Nyame, who was cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said the statement was forced on him.
He said: “I was forced to sign because we could not have proceeded.
“I was there with them, they wrote what they wrote and I was asked to sign.”
The defendant, however, admitted that he was asked some questions by the EFCC investigators on some of the contracts that he awarded during his tenure as governor.
Nyame said Jalingo airport projects, Jalingo market projects were among the contracts they raised questions over.
Asked by Jacob whether the “word of caution” as contained in the statement was administered to him or not, the defendant answered in the negative.
“They (EFCC) wrote and told me to abide by what they wanted me to say or do,” he said.
He said the EFCC had an agreement with him, which made him to admit what were written in the statement.
“We had an agreement that I will leave early,” he said
When the prosecution counsel further asked him why he had not complain until now since 2007 he wrote the statement, Nyame replied there was no need because they had an agreement.
Meanwhile, Justice Adebukola Banjoko has adjourned the case till November 19 for definite defence.
NAN.
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