I purchased N24.3m rice for Taraba people - Nyame

Former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame yesterday told an FCT High Court in Gudu, that he approved N24.3 million for the purchase of rice for people of his state in 2005 but could not identify who received the money.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nyame for alleged misappropriation of Taraba State funds to the tune of N1.64billion during his tenure as governor of the state.

Under cross examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Nyame said he gave directives to his then Permanent Secretary, Dennis Nev to raise a memo for the purchase of rice with the purchase to be made through direct labour.

He said he directed that the money be released to Taraba liaison office Abuja, and the recipient was to be the permanent secretary in Abuja, Japheth Wubon.

Nyame confirmed that nobody received the said money on July 8, 2005, after it was approved by the Accountant General of the state on the same date.

When the payment voucher was produced in court and given for Nyame to identify the recipient of the money with date and signature, he could not identify any name on the payment voucher.

It was further revealed that the permanent secretary, who testified as the fifth prosecution witness had earlier given evidence in court that he received the money and gave the money to Nyame, adding that there was no purchase of grains at all.

Reading from his June 2007 statement made to the EFCC, Nyame also said the purchase was made by a supplier and paid for in cash. “The rice was purchased from Lagos from a rice supplier; I can’t remember the name of the company now but will provide the details later. The sum of N24.3million was paid to the supplier in cash,” he said.

Asked if he had ever fulfilled his promise of giving the details of the company that supplied the grains, Nyame said it was because he was never asked.

The trial continues today with further cross-examination.