Ex-Taraba Governor, Jolly Nyame Sentenced To 14 Years for fraud

Agency ReporterMay 30, 2018

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A former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, has been found guilty by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu, Abuja, of one of the 41 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He is sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The former governor, who was charged with 41 counts of misappropriating the sum of N1.64bn in 2007, was found guilty of breach of trust involving his alleged fraudulent approval of N250m for the purchase of stationery and office equipment of December 30, 2004.

Part of the charges preferred against Nyame bordered on breach of trust involving sums of money allegedly authorised by the former governor for the purchase of stationery, the judge said.

The judge noted that the EFCC alleged that the former governor authorised the release of N250m for stationery in January 2005, N25m for the same purpose in February 2005, and 20m for stationery in October 2005.

The judge stated that Count 1 revolves around the N250m released for the stationery.

EFCC’s operative, Mr Ishaq Salihu, who testified as prosecution witness 12, alleged that nothing was supplied to the government after the release of the funds, Banjoko said.