The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday,
re-arraigned the former Plateau State governor, Senator, Jonah David
Jang, and a former cashier in the Office Secretary to the State
Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam, before Justice C. L. Dabup of Plateau
State High Court, Jos, on amended 17-count charge.
The duo of Jang and Pam are being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged
criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of Plateau State funds to
the tune of N30,236,024,219.88 (Thirty Billion, Two Hundred and
Thirty-six Million, Twenty-four Thousand, Two Hundred and Nineteen
Naira, Eighty-eight kobo).
Before today’s resumption of trial, the matter had been before Justice
Longji, who before proceeding on retirement on December 31, 2019, had
struck out the no-case submission of the defendants, particularly on the
funds for Small and Medium Enterprises, given to the state by the
Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, and that of the State Universal Basic
Education Board (SUBEB), which were allegedly diverted by the
defendants.
One of the charges reads: “That you Senator Jonah David Jang, whilst
being the governor of Plateau State and Yusuf Gyang Pam, whilst being a
cashier at the Office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government,
between January and May, 2015 in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit
an aggregate sum of N4, 357, 195, 000 (Four Billion, Three Hundred and
Fifty-seven Million, One Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Naira),
belonging to Plateau State Government and you thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Law of Northern
Nigeria, applicable to Plateau State”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and following their
plea, prosecution counsel, O. A. Atolabi, requested for a trial date.
However, the defence counsels for both defendants E.G Phajok, (SAN), and
S.G Ode, applied for oral bail application and asked the court to toe
the line of the bail earlier granted to the defendants by Justice
Longji.
Justice Dabup granted the defendants bail on the previous terms they
enjoyed from Justice Longji, and asked the remaining three sureties to
file their affidavits to show that they are still willing to continue to
be their sureties.
The process, the judge said must be done within three days. He adjourned
the matter till May 26, 27, and 28, 2020, for trial.