Nyame

An FCT High Court on Monday cautioned has cautioned parties, their agents and surrogates to stop interfering with prosecution witnesses.

The judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, gave the advise at the resumed trial of former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, on Tuesday.

Banjoko said after she received complainant from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecution team that the defendant was interfering with their witnesses.

The judge also said that one of her staff had been receiving messages in her mobile phone.

“All these interferences should stop, nothing except the truth will carry the day,’’ Banjoko said, and adjourned the case till Nov. 1.

Nyame is standing trial on a 41-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification of N1.64 billion.

The Prosecuting counsel to EFCC, Mr Henry Ejiga, told the court that the matter could not go on due to the defendant’s interference with the prosecution witnesses.

“We encountered constrains in bringing in our witness because the defendant had been interfering with our witnesses.

“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,’’ Ejiga said.

Ejiga also said they had obtained subpena from the court, but the witnesses were evading it, and prayed the court for more time to bring the remaining witnesses.

He said that the prosecution had so far fielded 12 witnesses.

The Counsel to defendant, Mr Hassan Fajimite, however, told the court that he was surprised about the allegation, “we were informed about this outside the court. We are certain that this won’t happen.’’ (NAN)