‘N29bn fraud’: Nyako, ex-Adamawa governor, to know fate July 19

A federal high court in Abuja has fixed July 19 deliver judgment in the alleged fraud case against Murtala Nyako, former Adamawa state governor.

Nyako and eight others, including Abdulaziz, his son, are standing trial on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering, allegedly perpetrated while he was a governor.

Others standing trial are Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd, Pagado Fortunes Ltd,  Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had closed its case on January 16, 2020, after calling 21 witnesses.

Instead of opening their defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission in which they argued that the facts adduced by all the witnesses called by the prosecution do not prove the allegation against them.

“The charges are in themselves incompetent and irredeemably bad thereby rendering the entire trial a nullity,” the defendants had said.

At the resumed trial on Friday, the defence counsel in the matter presented the outline of their no-case submission.

Oluwaleke Atolagbe, prosecution counsel, urged the court to dismiss the application.

Okon Abang fixed July 19, “for either judgement or ruling, however subject to judicial time”.