N6.3bn fraud: EFCC loses as court frees ex-Gov Jang

A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Friday discharged and acquitted a former governor of the state, Air Commodore Jonah Jang (rtd), over the N6.3 billion corruption charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The presiding judge, Justice Christy Dabup, also discharged and acquitted a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Yusuf Pam.

Jang and Pam have been standing trial since May 4, 2018.

The EFCC dragged the duo to court over 17 count charges bothering on diversification and misappropriation state funds.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Christen Dabup who delivered the judgement, said that the court did not find Jang and Pam guilty of any of the charges.

“The court did not find the accused persons guilty of any of the charges and they are hereby discharged and acquitted,” she said.

EFCC Chair: I won’t submit to blackmail of private interests 

Reacting to the judgement, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the defense counsel, said that the court found no merit whatsoever in any of the 17 count charges.

Ozekhome said that EFCC charges were nothing but lies without proof that the former governor diverted the said money to personal use.

“So literally between May 4, 2018 and today September 2, this man who served the state meritoriously has been undergoing torturous and harrowing experience for about four and a half years of trial and tribulations.

“But today justice came out and the court found out that the former governor did not steal a Kobo from Plateau Government coffers.

“The court said that it did not find with this man, whether in his personal account, whether in his office, whether with his children, whether with his wife, whether with his relations, whether with his friends.

“So where was this phantom money you said that this man stole?” he asked.

Ozokhome said that there was no evidence that the money which was a loan from Central Bank of Nigeria was taken by Plateau Government was stolen by Jang.

According to him, there were evidence that the money was duly utilised with all the heads of government validated by the Plateau State House of Assembly under an enabling and extant law.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said that they were yet to receive written copy of the judgement.

Atolagbe said that they would review the judgement and see whether there were grounds for appeal.

Jang is a former senator and onetime Military Governor of Benue State and defunct Gongola State.

The Star