Former Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), and three others have lost their bids to stop the N29 billion corruption charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday dismissed the no-case submission filed by the former governor and his son Abdul Aziz Nyako for lacking in merit
Justice Okon Abang in the ruling held that the Federal Government has successfully established a prima facie case against them and as such have a case to answer in the charges against them.
The judge ordered them to immediately file their defence in the 37-count contract scam brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Justice Abang said that he had painstakingly, carefully, calmly and thoroughly scrutinized the evidence of the 21 witnesses who testified against them and massive exhibits tendered against them and came to the conclusion that they have some explanations to offer in the charges against them.
The former governor and his co-defendants were given till October 4 to file their defense to the criminal charges against them.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former governor and his son, Abdul-Aziz; two companies, Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd and Pagado Fortunes Ltd, over money laundering offences.
Other defendants are Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.
The EFCC had arraigned them on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
The trial began in 2015 and has lingered till date.
.
All the defendants had asked the court to uphold their applications for no case on the ground that they were not linked with the charges brought against them.
Details later..
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday dismissed the no-case submission filed by the former governor and his son Abdul Aziz Nyako for lacking in merit
Justice Okon Abang in the ruling held that the Federal Government has successfully established a prima facie case against them and as such have a case to answer in the charges against them.
The judge ordered them to immediately file their defence in the 37-count contract scam brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Justice Abang said that he had painstakingly, carefully, calmly and thoroughly scrutinized the evidence of the 21 witnesses who testified against them and massive exhibits tendered against them and came to the conclusion that they have some explanations to offer in the charges against them.
The former governor and his co-defendants were given till October 4 to file their defense to the criminal charges against them.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former governor and his son, Abdul-Aziz; two companies, Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd and Pagado Fortunes Ltd, over money laundering offences.
Other defendants are Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.
The EFCC had arraigned them on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
The trial began in 2015 and has lingered till date.
.
All the defendants had asked the court to uphold their applications for no case on the ground that they were not linked with the charges brought against them.
Details later..
(DailyPost)
