Impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He is wanted in connection with the ongoing probe of alleged mismanagement of public funds during his tenure as governor for more than seven years.
Nyako was impeached by members of the State House of Assembly following his indictment by a seven-man investigation panel headed by Buba Kaigama.
Of the 20 allegations levied against him, the House of Assembly found Nyako ‘guilty’ of 16 before sacking him from office on July 15.
Some of the allegations were alleged diversion of N2.3billion meant for workers’ salaries; illegal diversion of N1billion earmarked for the State Scholarship Trust Fund; diversion of N142million emoluments of workers; fraudulent award of contracts of N8billion, among others.
This is just as his erstwhile deputy, Bala Ngilari, was also quizzed by the EFCC on Tuesday for about three hours, in connection with the said alleged fraud in the management of the state resources.
He was released on administrative bail.
Confirming the development, EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the decision to declare Nyako wanted was borne out of the agency’s inability to serve him summons either in person or through other means.
According to Uwujaren, “there has been an ongoing probe, even when he was governor, but we could not invite him then because of the immunity he enjoyed.
“When he is no longer a governor, all efforts to even serve summons on him were abortive, as he could not be reached at all.
“He could also not be contacted, either personally or through others means of formally inviting him to answer certain questions concerning the investigation being carried out in the state. The commission had no choice but to declare him wanted.”
He added that “I can also confirm to you that the former deputy governor (Ngilari) was here (EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja) today (Tuesday)”.
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