I made statement at EFCC in 2007 under duress, ex-Taraba governor, Nyame, insists

A former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, on Wednesday, told an FCT High Court, Gudu, that the statement he purportedly made at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2007 was under duress.
Nyame stated this at the resumed hearing in his trial by EFCC on a 41-count charge of misappropriation of state funds amounting to N1.64 billion while he was the governor of Taraba sTATE between 1999 and 2007.
Nyame, who was cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said the statement was forced on him.
"I was forced to sign because we could not have proceeded. I was there with them, they wrote what they wrote and I was asked to sign," he said.
The former governor,, however, admitted that he was asked some questions by the EFCC investigators on some of the contracts that he awarded during his tenure as governor.
He said Jalingo airport projects and Jalingo market projects were among the contracts they raised questions over.
Asked by Jacob whether the 'word of caution' as contained in the statement was administered to him or not, he answered in the negative.
"They (EFCC) wrote and told me to abide by what they wanted me to say or do," he said.
He said the EFCC had an agreement with him which made him to admit what were written in the statement.
"We had an agreement that I will leave early," he said.
When the prosecution counsel further asked him why he had not complained until now since 2007 he wrote the statement, Nyame replied there was no need because they had an agreement.
Meanwhile the case continue today Thursday, November 19.

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