A Prosecution witness, in the ongoing trial of the former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako has told Justice Okon Abang of an Abuja Federal High Court, how the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of the state Kobis Ari Thimnu, managed state funds which he was not authorized to do.
Ibrahim Emmanuel, a permanent secretary in the office of the SSG, political department between the year 2012 to 2014, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN had explained that when cheques came in, they were only addressed to the office of the SSG, then counter signed by him.
While explaining what some of the monies disbursed by his department are meant for, he explained that the monthly running cost “which is given not only to political departments, but all the ministry and agencies for them to run the office and pay political office holders and any other memo that would be directed by the secretary on various circumstances.
“I cannot remember all the memo, sometime then, Adamawa state was declared an emergency state, so memos are written by the SSG to enable all stakeholders meet, so that they will discuss and see how peace could be maintained, these are one of the proactive meetings, there are sometimes letters from local government seeking for financial assistance, especially when there is rainstorm”, he told the court.
Prior to the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to the witness over allegations of fraud, he informed the court that payments done by the accountant, he as the permanent secretary must be informed about them.
“I asked the accountant, he said apart from the running cost, payment of political office holders, allowances and payments of dignitaries for medical assistance which government humbly approves, is paid directly to the beneficiaries by the accountant but the other payments, the accountant leaves the cheque with the zonal manager of zenith bank.
“I asked if it was his name that was written on the cheque, but he said that the directive came from the SSG, I confirmed that from the SSG himself, at the end, the SSG signs at the bottom of the cheque”, he said.
He had earlier in his testimony informed informed the court, that the only signatories to the account were himself, the accountant (Adamu Digim), the deputy permanent secretary (Musa Daude), but that there were some made by the accountant, and some transactions which the SSG instructed the accountant to simply leave at the bank, with his signature appended on it.
“It is the function of the accountant to disburse funds to the office of the SSG, it is not the duty of the SSG to disburse funds”, he added.
Meanwhile the matter was subsequently adjourned to May 4, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Nyako is being prosecuted along his son, Abdul-Aziz Nyako a serving senator, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba on a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
Five companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds-Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited, were equally charged before the court as the 5th to 9th accused persons respectively.
SEYI ANJORIN, Abuja
