Mr Kobis Arithimni, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s principal witness in the ongoing alleged N40 billion trial of former Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, on Tuesday, testified before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Okon Abang had, on Oct. 30, granted the EFCC’s prayer to allow it take the evidence of Arithimni, who presently resides in the United Kingdom (UK), through video link in accordance to Section 232(3) of ACJA, following its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs’ argument.
The EFCC, charged the former governor and his son, Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako, along with others, with N40 billion fraud.
Jacobs, SAN, had told the court that Arithimni, who was Secretary to Adamawa State Government during Nyako’s administration, sent a medical report that he could not come to Nigeria on medical advice.
He said all efforts made by the anti-graft agency were unsuccessful.
At a resumed trial on Tuesday, Arithimni, who gave his evidence via video coverage, apologised to the court for being unable to come to the country to testify.
“I am a Christian and I am in London, receiving treatment,” he said.
He told the court that he was a commissioner in the Ministry of Rural Infrastructure, Adamawa, in 2007.
“In 2008 and 2014, I was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government.
“My duty was to coordinate the activities of the state government between ministries, parastatals and departments (MDAs) and to see to day-to-day smooth running of government,” he said.
Arithimni said he endorsed memos generated by permanent secretaries as regards funds before the governor’s office approved them.
“After the approval by the governors, the memos are brought back to my office and straight to the permanent secretary that generated the memo.