The former governor of Taraba state was on Wednesday sentenced to a 14 year jail term for misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.64bn. The sentence was pronounced by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu, Abuja.
Jolly Tavoro Nyame was Governor of Taraba State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He also earlier served as the governor of the state from January 1992 to November 1993.
In May 2007, the former governor was charged to court by the EFCC on 41 counts of criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, taking gratification and obtaining valuable thing without consideration.
The case was finally concluded after having run for about 11 years. Justice Banjoko found the defendant guilty on 27 of the 41 counts. He was sentenced to 14 years for criminal breach of trust without an option of fine, seven years for receiving gratification, two years for criminal misappropriation and five years for obtaining valuable thing without consideration.
Since the sentences will be running concurrently, he is expected to serve for 14 years.
While delivering the judgement, Justice Banjoko said “The convict is a Reverend, which means he is a Christian. He is expected to show high level of honesty, piety and integrity.
“How will Reverend Jolly Nyame begin to tell the people of Taraba State and the whole world to justify his action and inaction? How will he justify this colossal loss of the state under his watch?”
She went on to say “He will perhaps be the most audacious chief executive Nigeria ever had. He was still continuing to commit the offences while under an intense searchlight of the law enforcement agency.
“Over N100m was spent in a day for the visit of one man who was the President who is not God in April 2007, when he was expected to vacate office in May 2007.
“This is just one in the catalogue of the crimes he committed.”
This judgement will be the first major win and conviction against any former governor.