Former governor of Adamawa state, Admiral Murtala Nyako rtd, his son Senator Abdul- Aziz Nyako and six others including companies were on Thursday re-arraigned before the Federal high court Abuja on allegation of theft and money laundering totalling the sum of N 29 Billion belonging to Adamawa State .
The defendants: Former Governor Admiral Murtala Nyako rtd, his son Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Zilkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu , Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd, Pagado Fortunes Ltd, Blue Opal Ltd , Tower Assets Management and Crust Energy Ltd were initially arraigned on July 7, 2015 before Justice Evoh Chukwu who is now late. Chukwu died while the matter was before him.
After Justice Chukwu death , the matter was reassigned to Justice Okon Abang who conducted the trial afresh on the 37 count charge.
During the trial the prosecution called 21 witnesses and established its case against the defendants, but instead of the defendants entering their defence they opted to make no case submission. Justice Abang dismissed their no case submission on the ground that the prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe
had made out a prima facie case against the defendants.
Not satisfied with the ruling , Nyako and the other defendants went on appeal , the Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal and ordered them to go back to the trial court and open their defense.
But, before they could call their witnesses, Justice Abang was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench .
EFCC on Thursday re- arraigned the defendants before Justice Peter Lifu on same 37-count charge of money laundering, theft and diversion of public funds among others.
When the charges were read before defendants each of them pleaded not guilty to the charges .
The defendants’ lawyers, then orally applied that their clients bails that was granted on July 7, 2015 be allowed to continue.
Prosecution counsel Atolagbe did not oppose the bail application, but hinted the court that EFCC is open to plea bargain which was earlier initiated .
However, the defense counsel Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) told the court that it was the former President Mohammadu Buhari who intervened and there was a meeting with the former Attorney- General of the Federation ( AGF) to sort out the charges that are relevant for amicable settlement .
However, Aondoakaa added that they could not meet again for a second time with the AGF as he (AGF) became busy with his political campaigns.
He however said ,” we are ready for trial and we want the case to be off the record of the court as soon as possible having being on court jacket for 10 years”
In his brief ruling Justice Lifu ordered defendants to continue with the bail granted them on July 10 , 2015.
The trial court judge subsequently adjourned the matter to May 10 and 13 2024 for trial