FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, GOVERNOR JANG

Justice Daniel Longji of a Plateau State High Court, Jos has adjourned the trial of a former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, to September 12 and 13, 2019 for the continuation of trial and ruling on the trial-within-trial involving Yusuf Pam, a cashier at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, OSSG.

Jang and his co-defendant are standing trial for alleged N6.2billion fraud, and had on arraignment on May 16, 2018, pleaded “not guilty”, necessitating a full-blown trial.

At the resumed hearing on August 7, 2019, the prosecuting counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, who held brief for Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, continued with the evidence-in-chief of the 11th prosecution witness, PW11, Musa Sunday. While being

led in evidence, Sunday, whose testimony began on July 23, 2019 had mentioned that the cabinet of the OSSG and Special Services account, Exhibit P25, which was a statement of account from Zenith Bank, Jos, revealed that the amount was funded by various accounts of the state government including Plateau State Government Account, Plateau State Government Project 1 Account, PLASUBEB account domiciled in Zenith Bank.

According to him, from the statement of account, the fundings were stated clearly in the OSSG Cabinet Special Services Account, and had a credit of over N35 billion and the account was opened in 2009 while Jang was the governor.

He said: “My investigation carried out by the EFCC team handling this matter shows a massive withdrawal in 2010 by the second defendant, Pam. This withdrawal was in tranches of N10million per withdrawal.

“However in 2011, the withdrawal became more frequent, while in 2014 and 2015 it became massive, most especially on the 26 March 2015 to 9 April 2015.

“Pam withdrew over N3billion within these three weeks during this period the presidential and governorship elections took place.

“Jang had contested for a Senatorial position during the said period. While the investigation was ongoing Pam was invited to EFCC and the statement of account was disclosed to him as the withdrawals summed at over N30billion were carried out by the second defendant, Pam.

“Pam thereafter volunteered a statement to his knowledge about the withdrawals from the bank accounts. The withdrawals were carried out without due process and the Permanent Secretary was not in the know and did not sign or approve any cheques for withdrawals.

“In the course of my investigation, during the interview with the second defendant on where he delivers the monies, Pam made it clear in his statement that he delivered the monies directly to Jang and there is documented evidence to prove the withdrawals and delivery to Jang, Musa narrated.”