Ibrahim Magu
EFCC
Fraud
Ibrahim Magu
EFCC
Fraud Cases: Magu Writes CJN to Change Justice Nyako
over Husband
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has written to the Chief Justice of
the Federation, Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, requesting that all
EFCC court cases being handled by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal
High Court Abuja, be reassigned to another judge in a bid to obtain
fair judgement.
EFCC Prosecuting Counsel, Onjefu Obe, told the court on November
21, 2018 during the trial of the quartet of Umar Audu Bida, Truth
Igogori, Ifenyinwa Nwankwesiri and Ogechukwu Obaji. They are being
prosecuted by the EFCC over their complicity in a $1million
fraud.
According to Obe, the concern of the Commission to reassign all
EFCC cases before Justice Nyako, borders on likely bias on part of
the trial judge, considering the fact that the EFCC was also
prosecuting her husband, Murtala Nyako, a former Adamawa State
governor for alleged fraud.
The EFCC had in 2017 arraigned the defendants before Justice
Nyako on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and
obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $1million. They
allegedly defrauded Donald Latella of North Park LLC of the said
sum in a business deal involving the supply of about two million
barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil.
The offence contravenes Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud
and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under
Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
They were arraigned alongside four companies: Universal
Contractors, Lambda Energy Services Limited, Double Wonder Concept
Limited, and ICS Energy Services Limited.
They had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
According to Obe, he had come to court fully prepared with the
prosecution witnesses to proceed with the case. But very
unfortunately, the case (FHC/ABJ/C12/ 266/16), was not listed in
the court’s schedule for today as it is yet to be reassigned to
another court.”
Counsel for the second defendant, Solomon Agada, also lamented
that his client usually travels from Lagos to Abuja for the case.
He therefore urged the court to intervene and called for the speedy
reassignment of the case in order for the case to proceed.
Both counsels however agreed to await the reassignment of the
case and thereafter mutually agree on the next possible
adjournment.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity