The Federal Government has re-arraigned former Governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako and his son, Abdul-Aziz before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The two were re-arraigned following the death of the former trial judge, Justice Evo Chukwu, in June this year.

Nyako was arraigned on Monday alongside his son and two others as well as five companies on charges of money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N29 billion.

The other accused persons include Zulkifikk Abba, a Senator representing Adamawa Central in the National Assembly and one Abubakar Aliyu.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Counsel to Nyako and his son, Kanu Agabi, SAN, urged the court to allow his clients continue to enjoy the bail conditions earlier granted to them by Late Justice Chukwu.

The prosecution counsel did not oppose the bail application, but rather urged the court to order the former sureties who stood for the accused persons before Justice Chukwu, to depose to an affidavit, to show that they are ready to continue to stand as their sureties.

Agabi argued against the affidavit sought by the prosecution, explaining that “the sureties had not given any contrary indication in the matter”.

Justice Abang ruled that the defendants continue enjoying the bail earlier granted by Justice Chukwu since there was nothing before the court to show that they jumped the bail earlier granted.

He then adjourned the case to November 17 and 21 for commencement of trial.