Court adjourns money laundering case against ex-Gov Nyako to Oct 24

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned till October 24 and 28 a N29 billion money laundering suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instituted against a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, his son, Abdulaziz, and others.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) for the plaintiff called Principal Witness 1, Adekunle Christopher, a staff of the EFCC.

Adekunle said as Detective Head of Team 3, he and others had cause to investigate corruption allegations against ex-governor Murtala Nyako, whom he identified in court.

He listed companies that were also investigated for money laundering to include Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited.

Adekunle also identified all the other defendants and their roles in the companies listed.

He said in 2011, the EFCC received a petition signed by one Saed Umar, alleging that Nyako, while holding sway as governor of Adamawa State, siphoned state funds running into billions through a programme called SPPU.

He said the petition, dated October 10, 2011, by Saed Umar, also alleged that Nyako inflated contracts awarded in the state.

The petition was tendered and marked MN01.

PW1 said Nyako was invited by the EFCC on June 1, 2015, and he read and understood the petition.

PW1 further said that Nyako made five written statements, but the court could only find four and since there were no indications that Nyako had legal representation at the time, the Defence Counsel to Nyako, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), objected to the court admitting it, saying it breaches procedural rules.

All defence counsels towed a similar line in rejecting the 1st Defendant’s statements.

The judge said the issue of the four statements by the 1st defendant will be addressed by the court and adjourned to October 24 and 28, 2024, for cross-examination.

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