Fugitive Nyako Returns

BEVERLY HILLS, May 30, (THEWILL) – Fugitive former Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd), has returned to Nigeria after about five months in self exile to evade arrest by Nigeria's anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering, stealing and corrupt enrichment.

Nyako, who was impeached from office by the Adamawa State House of Assembly, was declared wanted alongside his son, Abdul Aziz Murtala-Nyako, also a retired naval officer.

A source close to the former governor said he returned to Abuja on Saturday but declined to say whether he would surrender to the EFCC on Monday.

The EFCC had in a statement said Nyako and his son have been elusive since they were invited for interrogation.

“Former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, has been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Also wanted by the EFCC is the son of the ex-governor, Abdul Aziz Murtala-Nyako, a retired naval officer.

“Both are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.”

The former governor was one of the five governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 following their opposition to the re-election bid of then President Goodluck Jonathan.