The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday halted further proceedings in the N29 billion money laundering trial of former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, following moves by the embattled politician to enter into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, granted an adjournment after being informed that discussions between the EFCC and Nyako’s legal team on an out-of-court settlement had reached an advanced stage.
Nyako, his son Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, and two others — Zulkifikk Abba and Abubakar Aliyu — are standing trial for allegedly diverting over N29billion from the Adamawa State treasury between January 2011 and December 2014.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants used five companies — Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited — to launder public funds, which were subsequently invested in real estate developments in Abuja.
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the plea bargain discussions were in progress and expressed optimism that both sides would conclude negotiations before the next hearing date.
Nyako’s lawyer, Chief Michael Aondoaka, SAN, confirmed the development, describing the settlement talks as “at an advanced stage” and expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved amicably.
Justice Lifu adjourned the case until July 18 for a report on the plea bargain discussions.
The defendants were first arraigned on August 7, 2015, on a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The EFCC claimed that huge sums of money, purportedly security funds, were placed under the control of Ma’aji Iro, then Regional Manager of Zenith Bank Plc for the North East. The funds were allegedly withdrawn and channelled for private use, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
The anti-graft agency further disclosed in court filings that two key witnesses—Ma’aji Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu—died under mysterious circumstances shortly after testifying against Nyako and his co-defendants.
In 2022, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ordered Nyako and his son to enter their defence after ruling that the EFCC had established a prima facie case requiring explanation from the defendants.
Efforts by the former governor and his co-accused to secure a dismissal of the charges through a no-case submission were dismissed as lacking merit by both the trial court and the appellate court.
Despite consistently maintaining their innocence, Nyako and his co-defendants now appear poised to explore a plea bargain that could bring the long-running legal battle to an end.
If concluded, the settlement could mark a significant dent in one of Nigeria’s longest-running high-profile corruption trials.