The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nyame

  • We didn’t obtain Nyame’s statement by duress – EFCC

    We didn’t obtain Nyame’s statement by duress – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said on Thursday that it did not obtain the statement of former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba by duress.

    The commission stated this at the resumed trial of Nyame on alleged stealing of N1.64 billion before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of an FCT High Court sitting in Gudu.

    A statement issued on the trial by Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, stated that an operative of the commission, Ishaq Salihu, disclosed this before the court.

    Uwujaren said Salihu, a prosecution witness, who was led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Adebisi Adeniyi from Rotimi Jacob (SAN), Chamber, told the court that Nyame’s statement was made voluntarily.

    “Salihu was one of the investigators that took the statement of the accused sometime in July 2007.

    “According to him, EFCC, as a law enforcement agency, has great respect for professionalism and would not do anything to either undermine people’s rights or the rule of law,’’ the statement said.

    According to the statement, the witness maintained that Nyame’s statement was voluntary when he was being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr Sikiru Adewoye.

    The statement said that the EFCC had closed its case in the trial and the court adjourned till Nov. 18 for Nyame’s lawyers to open their defense.

    Nyame, according to the statement, is facing a 41-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of state funds.

  • Court denies withdrawing cases against Nyame, Dariye, Audu

    Court denies withdrawing cases against Nyame, Dariye, Audu

    •Judges, officials transferred

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has denied report that its Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Bukar has ordered the withdrawal of cases involving former governors from the judges handling them.

    The court claimed yesterday that it was impossible for such development to occur as cases are hardly withdrawn once assigned, except where either of the parties raise issue of bias.

    Former governors Jolly Nyame (Taraba) Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Abubakar Audu (Kogi) are some of the ex-governors being tried in the court.

    The court’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Tabita Kangiwa said there was no iota of truth in the report.

    “I do not know where the on-line medium that published the false report got its information. That can never happen in this court,” she said.

    A senior official of the court, who pleaded not to be named, said it would be foolish for Justice Bukar to exhibit such crude bias, having just assumed office.

    He said the judge would be unwise not to learn from the mistake of his predecessor, who left office in a controversial circumstance.

    Justice Bukar’s predecessor, Justice Lawal Gummi left office suddenly before his retirement period, over allegation that he abused his office and influenced the outcome of a case in favour ot his state governor.

    Although Justice Gummi retired voluntarily, the National Judicial Council (NJC), who investigated the allegation against him, found him guilty of “gross misconduct.”

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar alluded to this fact when, while swearing-in Justice Bukar on October 11 challenged him on integrity.

    The CJN reminded Justice Bukar that he was assuming the headship of the FCT High Court at a time when the court was experiencing its trouble time.

    The Nation, however, learnt that the Chief Judge has effected the transfer of some judges.

    Some administrative officials of the court have also been transferred.

    A notice to that effect was conspicuously placed on the court’s notice boards on all floors of the court’s fourth-floor headquarters building at Maitama.

    When The Nation visited some of the courts handling the cases involving the ex-governors yesterday, it was discovered that they have not been withdrawn.

    At the FCT High Court, Gudu, where the case involving Nyame and Dariye are pending, it was learnt that, that of Nyame has been adjourned to November 1 for ruling and continuation of hearing.

    The next date for the Dariye case was unknown. Progress has been made impossible in the case for sometime now owning to an appeal filed by the ex-governor, which is currently stucked at the Supreme Court, ditto the case before the FCT High Court, Maitama, involving Audu.