N29bn Fraud: Court Admits More Exhibits Against Ex-Gov Nyako, Others

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

Ad

The Need for Nigeria to Lead Africa in the Emerging Age of Artificial Intelligence

By Sonny Iroche Introduction: Standing at the Threshold of the Fourth Industrial Revolution The world is on the cusp of a seismic transformation driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Just as steam engines powered the first Industrial Revolution, electricity and mechanization the second, and digital computing the third, AI is the defining force of the Fourth…

Why Wike Should Resign or Be Sacked: A Call to Organized Civil Society in Nigeria to Uphold Anti-corruption Standards with Consistency, By Frank Tietie

By Frank Tietie The revelations by Nigerian social crusader, investigative journalist, and activist Omoyele Sowore regarding the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyiesome Wike, are serious and warrant the attention of all Nigerians who care about the integrity of the country. Sowore has alleged that Wike laundered funds and concealed the purchase of…

Dangote Refinery Slams PENGASSAN, Describes Order as ‘Economic Sabotage’

By Abiola Olawale In an escalating labor showdown, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has fired back at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), criticising the latter’s order on Saturday. This is as the refinery owned by Africa’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote described PENGASSAN's order to cut crude oil and gas…

Ad

A Federal High Court, Maitama on February 20, 2017 admitted 26 documents as exhibits in the trial of a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, who along with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba, are standing trial for a N29 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is charging them with a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
They are alleged to have used five companies – Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Serore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited, among other companies to commit the fraud.
Justice Okon Abang had at the last sitting of January 25, 2017 adjourned to today due to the absence of third prosecution witness, Olabode Farinuola, a staff of Zenith Bank, through whom the documents were supposed to have been presented in court.
At the resumed sitting, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that Farinuola had resigned from the bank and had traveled out of the country to the United States.
“This is the new development, after we made inquiry with Zenith Bank and so they have provided us with another witness,” he said, urging the court to “set aside Farinuola’s evidence”.
No objections were raised by Kanu Agabi, SAN, counsel to Nyako, his son and Serore Farms & Extension Limited; Y.C Maikyau, SAN, counsel to Abubakar Aliyu; 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.
Justice Okon Abang, thus ruled that “since prosecution witness 3, PW3 is not in court to complete his evidence in-chief, it is hereby set aside and expunged”.
Ugwu Remigius, compliance officer with the Maitama branch of Zenith Bank, who replaced Farinuola thereafter took the witness box.
While being led in evidence by Jacobs, he said, “I worked with Farinuola at the compliance department we printed and compiled the documents as regards to the request of the EFCC for the statement of accounts, account opening packages and certificate of identification with regards to companies they were investigating.”
He thereafter identified the documents linked to the defendants, which the EFCC alleged to have been used to perpetrate the fraud.
The defence raised no objections to the admissibility of the documents.
Justice Okon, while adjourning to February 21, 2017 for “continuation of trial”, admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as exhibits C1-C63, D1-D274, E1-E60, F1-F235, G1-G154, H1-H42, I1-I203, J1-J35, K1-K16, L1-55, LB1-53, M1-38, N1-37, O1-34, P1-66, Q1-34, R1-28, S1-54, T1-27, V1-33, W1-60, X1-28, Y1-40, Z1-31, ZA1-250 and

Ad

Unlocking Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea during UNGA80
X whatsapp