An EFCC detective, Adekunle-Christopher Odofin, told the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court how former Governor Murtala Nyako siphoned Adamawa’s funds running into billions of naira while in office. Mr Odofin, the EFCC’s star witness and first prosecution witness (PW-1) in the alleged N29 billion fraud charge preferred against Nyako, his son, Abdulaziz, and others, told Justice Peter Lifu while giving his testimony.

Mr Nyako, Adamawa governor between January 2007 and December 2014, is facing a 37-count money laundering charge.

He was re-arraigned on March 21 alongside Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms and Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

The trial, which began on August 7, 2015, before late Justice Evoh Chukwu, was reassigned to Justice Okon Abang, and they were re-arraigned on October 17, 2016.

However, the case was again reassigned to Justice Lifu following Abang’s elevation to Appeal Court.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, the witness told the court that as a detective, “my schedule of duty includes investigating all cases assigned to my team,” writing reports, forwarding them to the legal and prosecution department of the commission and also going to court to testify in respect of same.

Mr Odofin, who identified Mr Nyako as former Adamawa governor, said he also doubled as the chairman and chief executive officer of Sebore Farms and Extension Limited.

He said Mr Abdulaziz is a Blue Ribbon Multilinks director and the co-owner of Blue Opal Limited and Opal Synergy Nigeria Limited.

“The name of the owner of Opal Synergy Nigeria Limited is one Neigi Oforie Jombo. These two companies came together to form Blue Opal Limited on a 50/50 ratio. I know the 3rd defendant in this case. His name is Zulkifik Abba.

“He is a director in Cross Energy Limited. He is also a shareholder in a company called Mainstream Energy Limited. The third defendant is also a director in a company called Sentiment Production and Exploration Limited.

“I also know the 4th defendant. His name is Abubakar Aliyu. He is a director at Tower Assets Management Limited. He is also a signatory to the bank account of Tower Assets Management Limited. The fourth defendant is also a shareholder in Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited,” he told the court.

The detective said that in 2011, the anti-graft agency received a petition against the defendants.

“Sometimes in 2011, the commission was in receipt of a petition dated 10th October, 2011 written by one Alhaji Saheed Umar. The petitioner alleged how the 1st defendant (Nyako), while he was executive governor of Adamawa State, siphoned the state funds running into billions of naira through a programme called Special Project Programme Unit (SPPU),” he explained.

He added, “The petitioner also alleged how the 1st defendant used his office to inflate contracts in his state. This petition was accepted and assigned to the Economic Governance 3 (EG3) Unit for discreet investigation.”

Justice Lifu admitted the petition in evidence and was marked Exhibit MN01 after the defence counsel, including Michael Aondoakaa, who appeared for Mr Nyako and his son, did not oppose Jacobs tendering it as evidence against their clients.

According to the witness, having assigned this petition to EG3, all the team members sat together and deliberated on the proper approach to investigate this case.

“It was agreed that letters of investigation activities be written to relevant agencies,” he stated. “As a result of this, the commission generated a letter of investigation activities to Zenith Bank, requesting statements of account and account opening packages of Sebore Farms and Extension Production Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Ltd, Cross Energy Ltd, Pandora Fortune Ltd, Padoga Petroleum Limited, Amdak Investment Limited, Kirkelly Investment Ltd, and Binkola Engineering Ltd.”

The PW-1 said the agency also wrote some other banks in relation to the investigation.

He explained that letters of investigation activities were also written to Fist Bank Nigeria Ltd regarding Cross Energy Limited and Tower Assets Management Ltd, adding that EFCC also wrote a letter of investigation to Diamond Bank, now Asset Bank Ltd, in respect of Sentiment Exploration and Production Ltd and Tower Assets Management Ltd.

“Letters of investigation activities were also written to Guarantee Trust Bank in respect of Tower Assets Management Ltd. A letter was also written to Union Bank and ECOBANK in respect of parties involved in this case and other identified companies and individuals,” he explained. “Responses to these requests were received and analysed.”

He said letters of investigation activities were written to the Adamawa government to furnish the commission with details of payment vouchers and memos in respect of various sums running into billions of naira withdrawn from the Special Services Department (SSD) domiciled in Zenith Bank and secretary to state government (SSG)’s account, also domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.

Besides, Odofin said EFCC wrote the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding the fifth to ninth defendants (companies), including Amdak Investment Ltd, Kirkelly Investment Ltd, Binkola Engineering Ltd, and other companies linked to the investigation.

“Responses to these requests were also received and analysed,” he said.

The PW-1 said the EFCC invited Nyako on June 1, 2015, and he had read and understood the petition. He said the former governor made five written statements, but the court could only find four.

When Mr Rotimi sought to tender the statements, the defence lawyers opposed it.

The lawyers, including Mr Aondoakaa, argued that since there was no indication that Nyako had legal representation at the time the statements were made, such action was in breach of procedural rule.

Justice Lifu, who adjourned the matter until October 24 and 28 for continuation of trial, said the court would address the issue of the four statements.

(NAN)