The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Federal High Court, Abuja to order former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, and his son, Abdullaziz, to enter their defence in the N29bn fraud charge levelled against them.
Nyako and his son are being tried alongside their companies – Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd and Pagado Fortunes Ltd.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, prayed the court on Thursday for the former governor to enter defence while responding to the no-case-submission filed by Nyako and his co-defendants.
Mr Atolagbe argued that, among others, counts one to 14 of the charge preferred against the defendants bordered on the offence of conversion, punishable under Section 15 of the Money Laundering Act.
He maintained that he had been able to prove his case against the defendants.
The counsel further said that other details in respect of the charge and the offences were contained in his written address and he referred the court to the relevant pages.
“Finally, the only thing my lord will actually refer to is the evidence before the court and see whether there is a prima facie case established against all the defendants,” Atolagbe said.
Counsel to all the defendants told the court that they needed a short adjournment to enable them reply on points of law to the oral arguments made by the prosecution.
Justice Okon Abang then adjourned the matter until July 16 and July 17.
Other defendants in the matter are Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.
The EFCC had arraigned the defendants on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
