In our review of high profile corruption trials today, a former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame earned the wrath of the court when he was indicted in a 41-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64 billion and was sentenced to 12 years in jail.
Former Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, however, was fortunate as he escaped with his N16.125 million loot.
Read on:
Jolly Nyame – N1.6 billion misappropriation
Jolly Nyame is a former Governor of Taraba State. Nyame is facing trial on a 41-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64 billion between 1999 and 2007 during his tenure.
Nyame’s financial crime was unravelled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while investigating a petition written by a widow.
The EFCC had during the trial which started in 2010 called 14 witnesses. The commission on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, closed its case against former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame.
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, ordered Nyame to begin his defence on March 8, 2017 after Justice Adebukola Banjoko, on February 14, 2017, dismissed his application for a “no case” submission.
Nyame, who is standing trial for a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of N1.64 billion state funds, had on January 18, 2017 through his counsel, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, urged the court to “hold that the testimony of prosecution witnesses have been so damaged and can’t be relied on”, and “the crucial elements are missing in this case”.
His ill-health also stalled his trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, on September 18, 2017. Counsel to Nyame, H.T. Fajimite, told the court that his client suddenly took ill, and needed to attend to his health which caused his absence in court for the continuation of his defence.
Counsel for the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, did not oppose the application for an adjournment.
On May 30, 2018, Justice Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, sentenced Nyame to 14 years for criminal breach of trust, two years for criminal misappropriation, seven years for gratification and five years for obtaining by dishonesty, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Read the full story below:
Jolly Nyame: How A Widow’s Petition Sent Him To 14yr Jail
The Appeal Court in November 2018 reduced the 14 year jail term to 12 years while adding N495 million to the fines.
Boni Haruna and the N16.125 million fraud
Boni Haruna, a former Governor of Adamawa State, was arraigned on a 28-count charge of fraud and embezzlement of public fund during his administration as Governor of Adamawa State between 1999 and 2007.
He was arraigned alongside one Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, a former Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, John Babani Elias, his aide and Al-Akim Investment Nigeria Limited.
They were first arraigned in 2008.
Also, Haruna was alleged to have on or about the 13th day of November, 2002, at Yola, fraudulently uttered a Guaranty Trust Bank Plc cheque no.0348501 dated 13/11/2002 in the sum of N10,000,000.00 drawn on account number no 3613406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque may be acted as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals (certain consequential Amendments, etc) Decree no 62 of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 (2) of the same Act.
Similarly, he was alleged to have on or about the 12th day of March, 2003, while he was still a governor fraudulently uttered a Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, cheque No: 3049628 dated 12/3/2003 in the sum of N16, 125,000.00 drawn on account number No: 361 3406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque may be acted upon as genuine.
No update on the case.
After entertaining some hearings on the matter, Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu upheld a no case submission filed on Haruna’s behalf by the Defence Counsel Barrister A.M Malgwi.
The trial judge said no documents were presented on all the allegations against the defendants. Hence, he was discharged accordingly.
Read also:
High profile corruption: How ex-Govs Fayose & Igbinedion squandered public wealth
[This Publication includes part of a compendium by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) covering corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.