Court warns ex-Gov Nyame against interfering with EFCC’s witnesses

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 warned parties, their agents and surrogates to stop interfering with prosecution witnesses.
The judge gave the warning at the resumed trial of a former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame, following complaints from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s prosecution team that the defendant was interfering with its witnesses.
Nyame is standing trial on a 41-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification to the tune of N1.64bn.
The case which had earlier been slated for hearing Wednesday could not go on as counsel to the EFCC, Henry Ejiga, told the court that the prosecution had a challenge in presenting its witnesses due to interference from the defendant.
“We encountered constraints in bringing our witness to court because the defendant had been interfering with our witnesses”, Ejiga lamented.
He added that, “we are bringing this information to the notice of the court in case we decide to take any action as we intend to conduct an investigation.”
Justice Banjoko, who frowned on the act, also said that one of her staff had been receiving messages in her mobile phone.
“All this interference should stop; nothing but the truth will carry the day,” Justice Banjoko warned.
Thereafter, the case was adjourned to November 1, 2016 for trial.