Court remands Ohakim, Nyako, son over alleged money laundering

An Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday ordered former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, and his son, Abdulazzez, to be remanded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until Friday.
Similarly, another Federal High Court also ordered that former Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State be remanded in prison.
Nyako and his son were arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu on charges bordering on money laundering, while Ohakim was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola for same offence.
The Nyakos’ applications for bail will be heard on Friday while that of Ohakim would be heard on July 9.
Nyako and his son, who are facing 37 count charge of money laundering amounting to about N40 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against them.
Ohakim also pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against him.
On Ohakim’s bail application, Ademola ordered that the defence counsel should file and serve the prosecution with his response within 24 hours.
He also ordered that Ohakim be allowed access to his wife, Chioma, and medication while in custody and be brought to court at noon on Thursday.
Counsel to EFCC, Mr Festus Keyamo, objected to the bail application for Ohakim on the ground that the ex-governor had refused to honour the commission’s invitations.
Chukwu, after hearing Nyakos’ counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), pleading for time to familiarise with the charges, ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody till Friday.
Earlier, the EFCC had confirmed the arrest and detention of Ohakim, Nyako and his son.
EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who said Nyako’s son Abdul-Aziz was also in the custody of the commission, added that the three suspects were arrested on Tuesday.