The Abuja High Court today listened to the testimony of a key witness, an accountant, Mr Abdurrahman Mohammed of the rural electrification board, Jalingo, Taraba state in the prosecution of the former governor of the state, Reverend Jolly Nyame.
The witness told the presiding Judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko how 20 Zenith Bank PLC, cheques valued at over N282 million were issued with the money withdrawn and given to the former governor.
Former governor Jolly Nyame who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is facing a 41 count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification of funds totalling N1.3billion.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, the witness who served between 2003 and 2007 as the accountant of the Taraba state liaison office Abuja said anytime the former governor was in the city, the permanent secretary of the government house, Mr Japhet Wubon always instructed him to withdraw funds from the bank via a Zenith bank cheque for the governor.
This money the witness says was always collected in company of two police escorts and a driver who then took him to the former governor’s lodge at TY Danjuma street in Abuja where it was received by the former governor Nyame himself or his steward without a receipt or a signed voucher.
Mr Mohammed identified exhibits of the Zenith bank financial statements and copies of the cheques he signed to withdraw the funds.
The defence team however objected to the exhibits been tendered as evidence in court through the witness.
They argued that the witness was a staff of the Taraba state government and not an employee of Zenith bank who ordinarily ought to have the documents in its possession.
Justice Banjoko adjourned further proceedings till the 30th of April
