N1.64 billion fraud: Ex-Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame to know fate tomorrow

A former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who is standing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, for allegedly misappropriating N1.64 billion state funds will know his fate tomorrow – February 14, 2017 as to whether he has a case to answer or not. The prosecution had […]

A former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who is standing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, for allegedly misappropriating N1.64 billion state funds will know his fate tomorrow – February 14, 2017 as to whether he has a case to answer or not.

The prosecution had on November 22, 2016 closed its case against Mr. Nyame after presenting 14 witnesses.

The trial, however, witnessed a twist on the same day, as the defence told the court that it intended to file a “no case” submission, as it believed that there was no prima facie case established against Nyame.

At the resumed sitting, both the prosecution and the defence adopted their written addresses, and gave oral arguments.

Charles Edosomwan, SAN, counsel for Mr. Nyame, alluded to the fact that “crucial elements are missing in this case”, and urged the court to “hold that the testimony of prosecution witnesses have been so damaged and can’t be relied on”.

He further argued that there was no direct link between Mr. Nyame and a house allegedly procured by him using the diverted state funds, noting that “nobody tendered registered documents linking him to it”.

According to him, the trial was “an unnecessary waste of time through which an ordeal was inflicted on Nyame, just because he was a former governor”.

Prosecuting counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, however, countered Mr. Edosomwan’s submission, noting that “a prima facie case had indeed been established against Nyame after the prosecution called 14 witnesses who testified to how they assisted him to divert state funds”.