The Federal High Court Abuja on Monday admitted in evidence, documents tendered by the 20th prosecution witness, Mr. Chris Odofin, in the N29 billion fraud trial filed against the former Governor of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako.
Nyako is being prosecuted alongside his sons, Sen. Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifil Abba on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. Some of the documents admitted in evidence include a certified true copy of a document captured ‘Blue Opal Nigeria Limited and Blue Opal sales details.’ The charge was preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports.
Similarly, five companies, Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited, were also charged before the court as the 5th to 9th defendants. The witness was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
the matter until April 10 for the defence to cross examine Odofin. The prosecution witness told the court that in the course of investigating the case, Mohammed Maji-Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu were invited by the commission to give statements, but that they both died before the matter was charged to court. He also told the court that Mr. Kobis Ari-Thumnu, former Secretary to the State Government of Adamawa and Mahmud Nyako also made statements to the EFCC, but when the matter was charged to court, all efforts to reach them were futile.
The defence counsel in court led by Mr. Ibrahim Isiaku (SAN) asked the court to adjourn the matter to enable them prepares to cross examine the witness. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned