There was apprehension at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, February 4 following the admittance of new exhibits from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Justice E. Chukwu in the ongoing N29 billion fraud case against the former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako, his son Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.
This was contained in a statement issued by the commission’s head, media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren. The accused persons are standing trial for a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused persons at different times between 2011 and 2013 used five companies – Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Serore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited to commit the fraud.
Their trial commenced on January 29, 2016 with the anti-graft agency presenting its first witness in court, one Mr Mahmud Wambai, a staff of Zenith Bank.
The EFCC at the resumed hearing today, February 4 presented before the court three more witnesses identified as Yawale Auwalu, Philip Olukayode, both staff of Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Caroline Osaha, a staff of First Bank Nigeria Plc.
Adebisi Adeniyi, counsel to the EFCC, who led Auwalu, the 2nd prosecution witness and an account officer in evidence told the court that in August 2014 the commission requested bank documents relating to Amdak Investments Limited and Amdak Road Construction Limited.
“We furnished the EFCC with the certificate of identification, copies of account opening documents and the statement of accounts as requested by the Commission,” he said.
The tendered documents were admitted as exhibits by the court, and there were no objections from the defence counsel, which included Kanu Agabi (SAN) a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, for Nyako, his son and Serore Farms and Extension Limited; counsel to Abubakar Aliyu, Y.C Maikyau, (SAN) Ibrahim Isiyaku, counsel to Zulkifikk Abba and Towers Assets; counsel to Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Olumide Olujimi; and counsel to Crust Energy Limited, O. A. Dada.
The EFCC called on its 3rd prosecution witness, Olukayode, a relationship manager in the business banking unit of Ecobank, situated at the Central Business District, Abuja, who also told the court that in July 2014 the anti-graft agency asked the bank to provide documents related to Tower Assets Management Limited.
The EFCC presented in court with a covering letter, mandate card, account opening documents and bank account statements related to Tower Assets Management Limited, Olukayode confirming them to be the ones sent to them on request.
“We acted on the request by the EFCC and when we were invited to the office of the EFCC, we honoured it and we were made to make statements, which we did,” he said.
Justice Chukwu, therefore, accepted and admitted all the documents as exhibits, with no objections from the defence counsel.
Osaha, the 4th prosecution witness who is a relationship officer with the Utako branch of First Bank Nigeria Limited, also told the court that the EFCC in February 2015 requested for bank documents related to Blue Opal Nigeria limited and Crust Energy Limited.
“We printed the statements of account and the opening mandate, certificate of identification, and also wrote statement at the EFCC confirming the documents from the bank,” she said.
The defence counsels did not object to the authenticity of the documents as they were admitted and accepted by the court as exhibits in the ongoing trial. Justice Chukwu, therefore, adjourned trial to March 15 and 16, 2016.
Recall that on July 15, 2014, the former governor was impeached as the Adamawa state House of Assembly deliberated on the report of an investigative panel that probed allegations of financial misconduct against him.
Nyako recently alleged that the Boko Haram terrorist group grew in strength just weeks after his ‘illegal’ removal as Adamawa state governor. He made the allegation in a memo, titled: “Threats of our nation from the GEJ Federal Administration and a vision of Building the Nigeria of Our Dream” in which he said he had finalised plans to neutralise the threats of the insurgents before his forced removal from office.
