Court To Hear Jang’s N6.3 Billion Fraud Case By 27th June, 2019

The State High Court in Jos, today, adjourned the hearing in ex-Gov. Jonah Jang’s alleged N6.3 billion fraud case till 27th June 2019

Naija news understands that prior to the adjournment on Friday, Olorunyomi, an investigator with the ICPC, revealed that the evidence he tabled before it against the former governor was based on what some people told him.

Olorunyomi, who was responding to the questions been asked from him by the Counsel to Senator Jang,, Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) said that

“My lord, throughout our investigation, I did not find any money in Jang’s personal account neither did I witness any money being handed over to him. But I was told that the money was withdrawn and taken to the Governor in his office.”

The prosecution witness had earlier told the court that the former governor contravened the ICPC act when he allegedly spent the sum of N2 billion of the state fund he received from the CBN on other projects other than its original purpose meant for the disbursement to Medium and Small Scale Enterprise Agency of the state.

The EFCC witness also claimed that Jang breached the law establishing ICPC when he borrowed money from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) without approval by the state House of Assembly.

When asked if the law establishing the ICPC also empowers it to dictate to states which project to embark or how the money was to be used, the ICPC witness answered “No”.

When he was further asked if he was aware of the existence of a law in Plateau State which permits internal and external borrowing by the government, the ICPC witness said he was aware. After the cross-examination, Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs called another witness, Jonah Kabong, a civil servant from the office of the Secretary to the State Government to testify in the case.

Jacobs sought to tender before the court two classified documents containing the minutes of the State Security Council meeting and that of the State Executive Council, but the move was objected to by the Defense Counsel, Mike Ozekhome who argued that the Prosecution Counsel failed to meet the criteria necessary before tendering the documents.

According to him, “the official secret act does not permit the disclosure of classified government document to members of the public without authorization by heads of such government agency, ministries or parastatal who must personally give approval for their release.