The proposed out-of-court settlement between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, over an alleged N29 billion fraud has been stalled following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the resumed hearing on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), could not meet with the parties to finalise the plea bargain arrangements due to the mourning period declared for Buhari.
Jacobs said the AGF had directed him to seek a short adjournment. Defence lawyers, including Barrister Mathew Onoja, who represented Nyako in court, did not oppose the request.
Justice Peter Lifu, in his ruling, granted the adjournment and noted that the court had taken judicial notice of the seven-day mourning period. The matter was then adjourned to **July 25, 2025**.
The EFCC had accused Nyako, his son Abdulaziz, and other defendants of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and abuse of office, alleging they diverted over N29 billion between 2011 and 2014 through five companies: Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited.
According to the EFCC, large sums of money were disguised as security funds and placed under the control of a Zenith Bank manager, Ma’aji Iro, before being withdrawn and used for personal projects, including property development in Abuja.
Previous attempts by the defendants to stop the trial through a no-case submission were rejected by both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, which ruled that they had a case to answer.
The defence and prosecution had earlier informed the court that settlement talks were progressing and could soon lead to a resolution. However, the latest delay has left the fate of the plea bargain uncertain, pending the court’s next sitting.