Nyako, son, others re-arraigned after nine years for alleged N29b theft 

Nyako

Former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; his son, Abdullaziz; and two others were, yesterday, re-arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on allegation of money laundering and theft of public funds amounting to N29 billion.

Nyako was re-arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on 37 counts bordering on money laundering, theft, diversion of public funds, among others.

At yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the case was set to commence de novo, as it was previously handled then by Justice Evoh Chukwu before his passing, and later under Justice Okon Abang, now elevated to the Court of Appeal.

When the charges were read to the respondents, they all pleaded not guilty.

Before the matter was adjourned, the prosecuting counsel hinted that they were open to a plea bargain, which was earlier initiated.

However, the defence counsel, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN), told the court that it was the former President Muhammadu Buhari that intervened, and there was a meeting with the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to sort out the charges relevant for amicable settlement.

Aondoakaa added that they could not meet for a second time with the AGF, as he (AGF) became busy with his political campaigns.

He, however, said: “We are ready for trial and we want the case to be off the record of the court as soon as possible, having been in the court jacket for 10 years.”

The defence counsel applied for the court to adopt the earlier bail granted to the defendants.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu ordered the defendants to continue with the bail granted them on July 10, 2015.