Nyame loses no-case submission, to face trial over alleged fraud

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gudu District, has ruled that former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame, will stand trial on allegations of N1.64 billion fraud preferred against him.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko in her ruling yesterday held that the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been able to establish through evidence that Nyame has a case to answer in court.

The ruling against Nyame’s no-case submission will therefore precede the trial of the former governor, which will begin on March 8, 2017.He will enter his defence in the trial in compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The EFCC accused Nyame of misappropriating N1.64 billion state funds while he was governor.Justice Banjoko had chosen the date for the ruling at the last sitting after listening to arguments of both the prosecution and defence counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi and Charles Edosamwan (SAN) regarding Nyame’s no-case submission in January.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, Justice Banjoko held that the prosecution’s evidence against Nyame has been able to establish that he has a case to answer.

Nyame is being tried on a 41-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N1.64 billion when he was Taraba State governor from 1999 to 2007.The prosecution closed its case on November 22, 2016 after presenting 14 witnesses.