Ise-Oluwa Ige
23 July 2007
Abuja — IMMEDIATE past governor of Taraba State, the Reverend Jolly Nyame, has offered to return the money he is accused of stealing from public treasury. But he says the loot the EFCC is attributing to him is far above what he took.
The Rev Nyame, now being detained at Kuje Prison in the FCT, is facing a 41-count charge of stealing, illegal diversion of public funds, misappropriation of public funds, inflation of contract sums, criminal breach of trust and bribery before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
His confession is contained in a statement he voluntarily made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dated June 6, 2007 in Abuja on sundry criminal allegations made against him.
The statement, taken in his hand-writing, is part of the documents the Federal Government is relying upon to convict him if he is not willing to enter a plea of guilty to the charge against him.
Nyame, in the statement, confessed to approving payment of huge sums of money during his tenure to individuals and companies for supply of materials to the government without bothering to know whether such items were supplied or not.
Although the EFCC is not questioning him on why he used a total N2.5 billion public fund meant for his people's welfare to buy two aircraft, now grounded, he explained why the state invested in the purchase and why another N225 million meant to be invested into the same business was diverted.
But he said he could not remember, in details, how every single kobo of the diverted N225 million was used.
He was specifically interrogated on a petition jointly signed by one Umar Baba and Kelas Obadia entitled: "Taraba State in a mess, the Commissioner of Finance goofed" written on behalf of concerned citizens of the state. The petition formed the basis of his arrest, his arraignment and his on-going prosecution.
Nyame is accused of collecting N180 million of the N250 million meant for the purchase of stationery by the Taraba State Government between January and February 2005 as a reward for the award of contract to USAB International (Nig.) Ltd. and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 115, 309 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
But in his statement, the Rev Nyame said: "I have been shown a memo for bulk purchase of office equipment and stationery by the Ministry of Finance to the tune of N250 million dated December 30, 2004 and I conceded approval.
"At the time of this report, I can't remember details of award of contract or items purchased off-hand. I will bring any details later.
"On the issue of whether these items were purchased, I wouldn't know. I did not in any way investigate because EFCC is investigating it.
"The issue of my share of N180 million, I must confess, I must contact the government officials who allegedly gave me the money. Whatever is my share, I will refund.
"But I can remember Hon Commissioner Tutare told me all monies were refunded to EFCC," he said.
Nyame who denied some of the allegations against him said: "On the issue of N25million meant for erosion and memo raised for the money given to me, I confess, it is not true.
"I can only remember the erosion control to legislative quarters. I never diverted local government funds. The local government chairmen are even thanking me for not interfering with their funds," he said.
However, he added: "I have been shown a memo which I signed for a study to be conducted for erosion control to the tune of N25 million to a Lagos-based consultant. I have seen my approval given for the project but I can't be sure of the execution unless I check the government's archives."
He said though some kick-backs were collected on his behalf in respect of some contracts approved by him, he claimed that he neither requested nor collected them directly.
In response to one of the allegations, he said: "I know Abubakar Ibrahim of Salman Global Ventures. I was being informed that EFCC called to interrogate the transaction regarding Ibi-Wukari Water Project. I was told my share of the funds was N80 million which I never received directly but posted to Abubakar Ibrahim's account.
"I was later told the money has been refunded to EFCC. I don't have a house which was purported to have been bought for me.
"Imam Mohammed is not known to me. There is no direct benefit with the Ibi-Wukari water project," he added.
Although the criminal information filed against him did not mention anything about a N2.5 billion invested in the purchase of aircraft by the Taraba State government through his approval, he, however, explained how the monies were invested.
He said contrary to the allegations that he purchased three aircraft for the state government, only two were purchased and that the money for the third was diverted.
Said he: "On the issue of the aircraft, the two aircraft were purchased through DANA. They were Dornier 328 and 228. The 328 was about N1.5 billion and the 228 N1billion.
"The Dornier 328 is in Abuja Airport while the Dornier 228 is in Kaduna. The third was not purchased because it was said to be phased out but the money deposited was converted for the purchase of bullet proof GM vehicles. Details will be supplied later.
"The two aircraft were grounded because of insurance. The 328 was run initially by EAS, based in Lagos. The EAS started well initially and cheques were paid to government through the Ministry of Transportation. The 228 was initially run by DANA before it was grounded," he said, adding that the two aircraft had now been leased out to new managers.
Nyame was arraigned before the Abuja High Court sitting in Gudu by EFCC on behalf of the Federal Government for stealing N1.6 billion public fund belonging to Taraba State between January 2005 and May 2007.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Some of the charges against him are:
COUNT 1
That you JOLLY TEVORU NYAME between January and February 2005 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being the Governor of Taraba State of Nigeria and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property to wit: the sum of N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) meant for the purchase of stationery by the Taraba State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
COUNT 2
That you JOLLY TEVORU NYAME between January and February 2005 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being the Governor of Taraba State of Nigeria and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: funds meant for the purchase of stationery by the Taraba State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said funds by collecting the sum of N180,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Eighty Million Naira) from the entire sum for your personal use and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
COUNT 3
That you JOLLY TEVORU NYAME on or about 3rd April 2005 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being the Governor of Taraba State of Nigeria dishonestly misappropriated certain funds to wit: the sum of N180,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Eighty Million Naira) which sum formed part of N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) belonging to the Taraba State Government approved by you for the supply of stationery for the Taraba State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
COUNT 4
That you JOLLY TEVORU NYAME on or about 3rd April 2005 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being the Governor of Taraba State of Nigeria accepted from one Abubakar Suleiman of Alusab International (Nig.) Ltd. through Salman Global Ventures (Nig.) Ltd. a gratification in the sum of N80,000,000.00 (Eighty Million Naira) (which was not a lawful remuneration) as a reward for the award of contract by the Taraba State Government to USAB International (Nig.) Ltd. and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 115 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
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