N80m fraud: DSS arraigns ex-Adamawa gov, Nyako’s former security officer
A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, and former Chief Security Officer to the former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, Sheriff Rabiu, has been arraigned over fraud involving N80 million worth of property.
Before Sheriff’s arraignment, in court on Friday, the DSS had clarified, following, Saturday PUNCH, inquiry, that the former CSO was being held in detention for some crimes.
Although, Sheriff, reported arrested by the DSS had been made over an alleged dispute, over an N80 million property, which the former CSO to ex-Gov Nyako, allegedly converted after purchasing the said property on behalf of Sebore farms.
However, before his arraignment on Friday, Sheriff’s lawyer, Gabriel Adikwu, engaged by the ex-assistant commissioner of Police, right from the onset of the case, withdraw himself from the case.
He said he couldn’t continue holding brief for the embattled Ex-CSO, Gov. Nyako because of breach of confidentiality, saying his client’s action of leaking a memo he wrote the DSS, had negatively affected his integrity.
Mention of the case, HC/ADSY/77CA/2021, was made at the High Court I in Yola before Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman, involving the state (Complainant) versus Sheriff Abubakar Rabiu (Defendant).
The application stated that Sheriff is in court under section 106 (1) of Adamawa State administration of criminal justice law, 2018 which provides for the commencement of trial in the High Court by way of the information filed by the attorney general of the state.
Counsels to Sheriff, M. I Otokpa, and I. Muhammad, who opened defence for their client, also applied for bail on grounds of ill-health.
Justice Hafsat, after hearing the suit, in her ruling granted the defendant bail on grounds of his failing health condition being a constitutional right.
She, however, gave a condition that the bail will only be ensured when a bond of N100 million and a reliable surety had been provided.
The case was adjourned to January 12, 2022, for hearing. Punch
