The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, also known as EFCC, re-arraigned a previous governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, and his son, Abdulaziz, for an alleged N29bn fraud on Thursday.
They were re-arraigned along with Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms and Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited.
The defendants were accused of money laundering totaling N29bn.
When the defendants’ pleas were taken, they pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC had initially arraigned them on August 7, 2015 before the late Justice Evoh Chukwu.
The defendants were subsequently re-arraigned on October 17, 2016, before Justice Okon Abang who is now a judge at the Court of Appeal.
When the matter was called on Thursday, the attorney for the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the case was beginning again due to the unavailability of the initial two judges who had presided over it.
He said, “My Lord, Justice Evoh Chukwu first handled the matter where we called eight witnesses before he died.
“It was then transferred to Justice Okon Abang where we called 21 witnesses and closed our case.
“The defendants, however, all appealed the case, saying they had no case to answer but the Court of Appeal dismissed their appeals and asked them to return to the Federal High Court and open their defense.
“Unfortunately, Justice Abang was elevated to the Court of Appeal and that is why we are before you today My Lord.”
Counsel for the former governor, his son, and their companies, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), requested the court to allow his clients to be released on bail under the previous conditions.
The trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, granted his request.
After this, the EFCC lawyer reminded the court that the defendants had chosen to plea bargain when Justice Abang was presiding over the matter, and expressed interest in knowing if they had changed their minds.
Aondoakaa, however, stated that what they had requested was to amicably settle the matter due to the age of the former governor.
He said, “Plea bargain creates the impression of guilt. The admiral is 81 years old; he is the age mate of the likes of retired Gen. Badamosi Babangida and he cannot continue to be made to face this again.”
He said the court would be duly informed if progress was made with the attempt at amicable settlement.
Justice Lifu subsequently scheduled May 10 and 13 for the start of the trial.
