ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday ordered that a former Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, and his son, Abdulaziz, be remanded in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until tomorrow when applications for their bail would be heard.
Justice Evoh Chukwu, had over ruled the argument of defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) that his clients be remanded in prison instead of EFCC custody.
Nyako, his son and two others, are standing trial over a 37-count charge bordering on corruption and money laundering, amounting to about N15 billion. When the charges were read to them, the accused pleaded not guilty.
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting the governor and the three others over allegations of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering ,after they had been interrogated over alleged illicit funds traced to companies in which they have interest.
The companies are Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change.
The commission said its investigations revealed that from 2007 to 2011, Nyako directed that all state-owned accounts domiciled in various banks be transferred to the account supervised by his in-law.
Abdul-Aziz Nyako’s company, Blue Opal, is said to own, among other investments in Nigeria, an estate in Abuja, while his father’s account officer owns several properties and investments scattered around Abuja, Yola and Kano.
Nyako and his co-travelers were however not alone, as a Federal High Court in Abuja, also on Wednesday, ordered that the former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, be remanded in EFCC custody until today when the court would entertain his bail application.
Ohakim, was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on Tuesday, July 7 and arraigned on three-count charge before Justice Adeniyi Ademola for allegedly making a cash payment to the tune of $2,290,000 (about N270,000,000.00) for the purchase of a property at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The EFCC contended that the amount is above the threshold approved for an individual going by the provisions of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.
He is also accused of deliberately neglecting to disclose all his assets in the declaration submitted to the EFCC and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 26th of January, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while under arrest for an offence under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by not declaring your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District- it is also known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.”
Ohakim pleaded not guilty, following which the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, sought a date for the commencement of the trial.
He also asked that Ohakim be remanded in prison custody pending the trial date.
But defence Counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to allow his client remain in EFCC’s custody pending the determination of his client’s bail application, in view of the prosecution’s indication of its intention to oppose bail for the ex-governor.
Although, Uche had urged the court to allow either Ohakim’s wife, Chioma (who was in court) or his brother to stand surety, to enable him return home, he later applied that his client be allowed to remain in EFCC custody in view of the prosecution’s objection to his proposal.
Following complaints by Ohakim that he was subjected to harsh conditions at the EFCC, from where he was brought to court, the judge directed that he be allowed access to his wife, doctor and medications.
Ohakim, who was allowed to address the court, said that when he reported at the EFCC office the previous day, “one of the operatives came to me at about 6pm and said I was going to spend the night with them.
“They took me to a basement cell, where I was made to sleep on the floor, and the toilet was leaking profusely. No arrangement was made about feeding for me. I was not allowed access to my medications,” he said.
In view of Keyamo’s assurance that he would file his counter-affidavit to the ex-governor’s bail application today, Justice Ademola adjourned hearing of the application to 12 noon.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
