In a dramatic turn of events, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday suspended further proceedings in the long-standing N29 billion corruption trial of former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, amid reports that the embattled politician is negotiating a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter, granted an adjournment after being informed that discussions between the EFCC and Nyako’s legal team had reached an “advanced stage.” The court is now awaiting a report on the outcome of the talks, expected at the next sitting on July 18.
Nyako, his son Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, and two associates — Zulkifikk Abba and Abubakar Aliyu — are standing trial over allegations of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, abuse of office, and stealing to the tune of over N29 billion allegedly looted from the Adamawa State treasury between January 2011 and December 2014.
According to the EFCC, the defendants used five front companies — Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited — to siphon and launder public funds. The looted funds were allegedly funneled into high-end real estate projects in Abuja.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, confirmed to the court that plea bargain negotiations were ongoing and expressed hope that a final agreement could be reached before the adjourned date.
On the defense side, Nyako’s lawyer, Chief Michael Aondoaka, SAN, echoed similar sentiments, describing the settlement talks as “highly progressive” and signaling that both parties were optimistic about an amicable resolution.
The case, which dates back to August 7, 2015, when the defendants were first arraigned on a 37-count charge, has been one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption trials. The charges stem from the alleged diversion of public funds under the guise of security allocations, which the EFCC claims were placed under the supervision of Ma’aji Iro, then Regional Manager of Zenith Bank Plc for the North East. The funds were reportedly withdrawn and misappropriated for personal use — a clear violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Notably, the trial has not been without mystery and tragedy. Two key prosecution witnesses — Ma’aji Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu — reportedly died under suspicious circumstances shortly after giving testimony against the former governor and his co-defendants, casting a long shadow over the case.
Despite repeated efforts to quash the charges through no-case submissions, both the trial court and the Court of Appeal in 2022 affirmed that the EFCC had established a prima facie case, compelling the defendants to open their defense.
Now, after nearly a decade of courtroom drama, it appears that the once-defiant defendants are leaning toward a compromise that could bring this high-profile legal battle to a quiet close.
If the plea bargain is eventually sealed, it may serve as both a controversial resolution and a precedent-setting moment in Nigeria’s fight against corruption — signaling yet again how drawn-out trials can end not with a bang, but with a bargain.
PIONEER NEWS 