THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Abdul-Aziz, son of former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako.
Abdul-Aziz, who was declared wanted about two weeks ago, was picked up Friday morning by operatives of the anti-graft agency in Gombe, Gombe State, and immediately flown to Abuja, where he is currently being interrogated by a crack team of detectives who had been working on the Adamawa investigation for several months.
A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwajaren, said Abdul-Aziz, who was wanted in connection with a case of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering, is currently telling investigators all he knows about illicit funds traced to companies where he has interest.
“Specifically, he will have to explain how over N15billion funds belonging to Adamawa State was laundered into the accounts of five companies owned by him- Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change.
“The funds was funneled into the accounts of the companies from Adamawa State accounts domiciled in a new generation bank by the account officer, who incidentally is the manager and an in-law to Nyako,” he stated.
According to him: “The manager claimed he transferred the funds through verbal instruction from the former governor for purposes, which are not stated.”
“Investigations revealed that from 2007 to 2011, within Nyako’s tenure in office before he was impeached in 2014, he had directed that all the state-owned accounts domiciled in various banks be transferred to the new generation bank.”
“Abdul-Aziz’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.”
