This is Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal
Capital Territory High Court who found former governor
of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame guilty for
criminal breach of trust on Wednesday.
This is Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal
Capital Territory High Court who found former governor
of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame guilty for
criminal breach of trust on Wednesday.
She was so appalled at Nyame’s brazen theft of public
money that she bellowed: “There’s no moral
justification for the level of outright theft, and the Court
must therefore, impose a statement, hopefully as a
deterrent to other public officers, who may be similarly
inclined”
“From the totality of facts before the court, Nyame
approved N250 million for purchase of stationery, but is
found to have no intention to fulfil the purpose,”
Justice Banjoko held.
Justice Banjoko also noted that Nyame, a clergyman,
as governor of Taraba, breached the trust reposed in
him by the indigenes of the state, when he
misappropriated N250 million which he approved
purportedly for the purchase of stationery for the state.
In a ruling which lasted more than 4 hours, Justice
Banjoko found Nyame guilty of 16 counts, bordering
on criminal breach of public trust.
Nyame had during the trial denied knowledge of
Salman Global Ventures Limited. But Justice Banjoko
disagreed, saying that, “immediately the fund was
released, his verbal instruction was given, that N180
million be paid to Salman Global Ventures”.
The judge further added that: “the audacity of the
defendant to divert N180 million from the N250 to the
company, shows that he had more than a casual
interest and so can’t hide behind a screen”.
“There was no evidence to show that Salman Global
Ventures bid for any contracts,” the trial judge said,
noting that within five weeks, Salman Global Ventures
received over N300 million from the state coffers.
The angry judge sentenced him to a total of 28 years
in prison, 14 years of which was for criminal breach of
trust.
