The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has admitted
documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) as fresh evidence against an ex-governor of Adamawa State,
Murtala Nyako.
The former governor is standing trial on 37 counts of conspiracy,
stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29bn.
One of the documents which were tendered through the 12th prosecution
witness, Caroline Utsaha, showed that a total of N80m deposit was made
in a day in the name of Blue Opal Limited, one of the companies
allegedly used by the former governor to siphon the state funds.
Utsaha, a relationship manager with the First Bank, while being led
in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, said: “In 2014, the
EFCC wrote our Bank, requesting for details of the accounts packages and
statements of accounts of three accounts
“The accounts were: Blue Opal Limited, Opal Corporate Limited and
Crust Energy Limited. I got all they requested and did a forwarding
letter to the Commission and also did an identification letter,
indicating that the statements and all the documents are from First
Bank”.
When asked to look at Exhibit H1 and tell the court about the
transactions therein, the witness said: “the entries here are series of
deposits of Zenith bank cheque”.
“On March 29, 2012, there were eight deposits of Zenith bank cheque
of N10m each. The deposits were done on the same day,” she added.
Justice Okon Abang adjourned till July 4 for the continuation of hearing.
Nyako is being prosecuted alongside his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako as well as Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.
Other companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the
purported diversion of funds are Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets
Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.
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