Photo: Meet the tough female judge that sent ex-governor, Jolly Nyame, to prison

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court is the judge that found former governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame guilty for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N1.64 billion while he was in office. She sentenced him to 14 years in prison without fine.

Justice Banjoko was so appalled at Nyame’s brazen theft of public money that she said angrily.

“There’s no moral justification for the level of outright theft, and the Court must therefore, impose a statement, hopefully as a deterrent to other public officers, who may be similarly inclined. From the totality of facts before the court, Nyame approved N250 million for purchase of stationery, but is found to have no intention to fulfil the purpose,” Justice Banjoko held.

Justice Banjoko also noted that Nyame, a clergyman, as governor of Taraba, breached the trust reposed in him by the indigenes of the state, when he misappropriated N250 million which he approved purportedly for the purchase of stationery for the state.

In a ruling which lasted more than 4 hours, Justice Banjoko found Nyame guilty of 16 counts, bordering on criminal breach of public trust.