on September 12, 2019 narrated to a State High Court, sitting in Jos,
Plateau State, how his aide conveyed cash to him at the Government
House.
Jang and the aide, Yusuf Pam, a cashier at the Office of the Secretary
to the State Government, SSG, are accused of colluding to divert state
funds to personal use and are standing trial before Justice Daniel
Longji.
Sunday, who is testifying as the 11th prosecution witness, while being
cross-examined by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, counsel for Jang, gave a vivid
description of how Pam, during investigations into the alleged fraud,
took him through the hidden back passage through which he usually used
to take cash to Jang.
He said: “The new Government House is located at the outskirt of town
amidst a lot of buildings.
“Amongst the buildings was the office of the SSG of the state where Pam
and the EFCC detectives reported their arrival to the SSG.
“From the SSG’s office we were led to the Government Office, the
Governor’s office, a storey-building with two doors one at the main
entrance and at the back exit.
“There, Pam showed us how he delivered cash in ‘Ghana must go’ bags to
the former Governor.
“He had clearly said and even showed me the back entrances where the
cash was stacked and given to the governor.”
While identifying Exhibit P62, a response from the Plateau State House
of Assembly dated July 19, 2018 and September 2014, alongside the letter
from the EFCC requesting for information, Musa told the court that
investigations revealed that memos were written by the Commission of
Finance, who was involved in seeking approval for the disbursement of
the funds involved in the alleged fraud.
“However, the monies were further transferred from Plateau State One
account to OSSG account where the second defendant withdrew cash and
delivered to the first defendant,” he said.
While trying to infer that the prosecution of Jang was political,
Ozekhome questioned the witness, as to why it took four years before the
former governor, who contested under the Peoples Political Party, PDP,
was arraigned in court.
“Four years later, Jang was charged on April 4, 2018, and don’t you
think this has a political undertone?” Ozekhome queried.
So between 2014 and 2018 when the petition was received and when he was
first charged to court, it took four years, don’t you think this has a
political undertone?” Ozekhome queried.
Replying, Sunday said: There are laid down procedures following
investigation, the legal team take up the cases and charge them to
court. All these processes takes time.”
Under cross-examination, the witness further confirmed that about
$100,000 was deposited in a single day into the Standard Chartered Bank.
He said: “On the May 6, 2014 $50,000 cash deposit in tranches of $10,000
five times and on May 7, 2014.
“Yakubu Jang, son of the first defendant was among the persons who
deposited monies into the account.”
The case has been adjourned to September 13, 2019.