Court rejects ex-governor’s efforts to dismiss graft case

The Nigerian High Court has ordered former governor Jolly Nyame to stand trial on 8 March after his application to have his graft case withdrawn was dismissed. The Daily Post reports that Nyame, who faces a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of $69m in state funds in January urged the court to dismiss the matter because ‘the crucial elements are missing in this case’. Justice Adebukola Banjoko noted that a prima facie case implies that there are grounds for proceeding: ‘I hold that this case requires him to provide information and give explanation with regards to evidence presented by the prosecution, and so he is ordered to enter into his defence in the interests of justice’.