Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Hearing stalled as EFCC cites insecurity in Plateau over Jang’s arraignment
The commencement of hearing on alleged misappropriation of funds by former Plateau state governor, Senator Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam was stalled by the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to present its witnesses in court, citing insecurity in the state.
Hearing was billed to commence today, where the anti-graft agency was to produce its witnesses, but it could not. Counsel to EFCC, Henry Ejiga said the security situation in the state could not allow the agency to produce its witnesses.
But for the respect for this court, we found it important to come; that’s the reason our lead Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) is not in court.
Responding, Counsel to the accused, Robert Clarke SAN accompanied by Mike Ozekhome SAN, said that criminal trials are enjoined by the law to be speedy, because the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to the charges, Jang, allegedly embezzled some special funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
In one of the counts, the former governor, among other things, allegedly pocketed N2 billion released by the CBN for disbursement to small and medium enterprises in the state under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds, MSMEDF, just a month before the expiration of his tenure in April 2015.
Jang is also said to have abused his office as governor by collecting money to the tune of N4.3 billion from the state coffers through the cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Pam.
Source: Daily Post
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