Justice Christy Dabup held that the EFCC failed to prove its case against Jang, hence, discharged and acquitted the former governor
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The judgment of the Federal High Court discharging and acquitting the former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, will be challenged at the Court of Appeal, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren.
Ex-Plateau Governor was discharged and acquitted of all corruption charges levelled against him by the EFCC today.
In a tweet by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, says the commission has initiated processes for an Appeal immediately.
In March 2018, Jang, a two-term governor of Plateau State between 2007 and 2015, was arraigned before Justice Daniel Longji, on a 12-count charge bordering on misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N6.3billion.
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He was arraigned alongside a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau state government, Yusuf Pam.
Justice Christy Dabup in her judgment today, September 2, discharged and acquitted the former Governor and Mr Pam of the charges proffered against them.
Facts of the case
The EFCC accused Jang of pocketing 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.
According to EFCC he also abused his office as governor by collecting money the sum of N4.3billion from the state coffers through Mr Pam, the cashier of the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Mr Pam was accused of using his office for personal enrichment to the tune of N11.5 million and was arraigned alongside Mr Jang but also pleaded not guilty.
Mr Jang’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) had argued that the case lacked merit and that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He, therefore, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), however, urged the court to consider the evidence of all the fourteen (14) witnesses that had been presented. He said the required proof is not “proof beyond all shadow of doubt.”
Mr Pam had alleged that his statements made to the Investigating Police Officer and prosecution witness when he was arrested by the EFCC were made under duress.
The presiding judge, Justice Dabup upheld the submissions of the defence counsel that Mr Pam was harassed and made to offer his statements under duress. She held that the EFCC did not comply with the mode of taking statements, as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Plateau State 2015.