The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday put a temporary stop to the ₦29 billion money laundering trial involving former Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd), following the defendant’s decision to explore a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Naijaonpoint reports that Justice Peter Lifu suspended proceedings after the anti-graft agency disclosed ongoing negotiations for an out-of-court settlement.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that discussions were already at an advanced stage and could be finalised before the next adjourned date.
“Both parties have commenced discussions on settlement. By the next date, we expect to resolve all details,” Jacobs stated.
Nyako’s lawyer, Michael Aondoaka (SAN), confirmed the talks and expressed optimism that the case would be resolved amicably.
Following the submissions, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till July 18, 2025, for a report on the settlement.
Nyako, alongside his son Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, and two others, Zulkifikk Abba and Abubakar Aliyu, were first arraigned on August 7, 2015, over allegations of diverting over ₦29 billion from the Adamawa State treasury between 2011 and 2014.
According to the EFCC, the defendants used five front companies, Blue Opal Ltd, Sebore Farms, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd, and Crust Energy Ltd, to launder public funds under the guise of executing contracts.
The commission also claimed that part of the stolen funds was invested in real estate projects in Abuja to conceal their origin.
One of EFCC’s detectives, Mr. Adekunle Odofin, had in a counter-affidavit told the court that funds, disguised as security votes, were allegedly handed to a former Zenith Bank manager, Ma’aji Iro, and later withdrawn for personal use.
Odofin further revealed that Iro and another key EFCC witness, Abdulmalik Dalhatu, died under mysterious circumstances shortly after testifying against Nyako.
The charges, according to the EFCC, border on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office, and money laundering, punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.
It will be recalled that on January 18, 2022, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, ordered Nyako and his co-defendants to enter their defence in the 37-count charge.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Olabisi Ige, unanimously upheld a prior ruling by the trial court, which dismissed their no-case submission and affirmed that a prima facie case had been established against them.
Justice Okon Abang, in the ruling delivered on July 19, 2021, had earlier stated, “The court is satisfied that the defendants have a criminal case to answer and are hereby ordered to open their defence.”
Nyako and his son had argued that none of the 21 prosecution witnesses directly implicated them. The trial, however, may now be discontinued if the plea bargain terms are successfully concluded.