The
former governors of Imo and Adamawa States, Ikedi Ohakim and Murtala Nyako, and
Mr. Nyako’s son, Abdul-aziz, have been arrested by officials of the Economic
Financial Crimes Commission.
The
former governors, and Abdul-aziz Nyako, who is a senator now, are to be
arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday on different cases of
alleged corruption.
A
source at the EFCC had in June told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Ohakim had questions
to answer concerning a number of properties allegedly traced to him.
The
commission said in a statement that the two Nyakos were wanted on allegations
of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
Mr.
Nyako’s son had been interrogated by the EFCC over alleged illicit funds traced
to companies in which he had interest.
Specifically,
he was asked to explain how over N15 billion belonging to Adamawa State was
allegedly laundered into the accounts of five companies said to owned by him.
The
companies are Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue
Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon
Bureau De Change.
The
funds were allegedly funnelled into the accounts of the five companies, from
Adamawa state government bank accounts. The transfer was done by the account
officer who incidentally is the manager of the bank and an in-law to former
governor, Mr. Nyako.
The
EFCC said the manager claimed he transferred the funds based on verbal
instructions from the former governor for purposes that were not stated.
The
commission said its investigations revealed that from 2007 to 2011, the then
Governor Nyako directed that all state-owned accounts domiciled in various
banks be transferred to the account supervised by his in-law.
Abdul-Aziz
Nyako’s company, Blue Opal, is said to own, among other investments in Nigeria,
an estate in Abuja, while his father’s account officer owns several properties
and investments scattered around Abuja, Yola and Kano.
- Premium Times
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