The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and 12-year prison sentence that was handed to former governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame, for stealing public funds.

The judgement of the Supreme Court was passed today, Friday 7th February, 2020.

In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Mary Odili, said it found no reason to set-aside concurrent judgements of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, which found Nyame guilty of embezzlement and money laundering.

Justice Amina Augie who delivered the lead judgement, held that appeal Nyame filed to challenge his conviction and sentence, lacked merit.

However, the apex court held that the appellate court was wrong to also impose fine against the convict.

It therefore affirmed the imposed jail term but freed the convicted former governor from paying fine for the financial crime he committed against the state.