Court discharges, acquits ex-Gov. Jang of N6.3bn corruption charges

A Plateau High Court sitting in Jos, on Friday, discharged and acquitted Sen. Jonah Jang of N6.3 billion corruption charges proffered against them by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Jang, a former governor of Plateau has been standing trial since May 4, 2018.

The court also discharged and acquitted a former cashier, Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government who was standing trial alongside with Jang.

The EFCC dragged the duo to court over 17 count charges bothering on diversion and misappropriation of 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.

Reacting to judgment, 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 military governor of Benue and old Gongola diverted the said money to personal use.

“So literally between May 4, 2018 and today Sept. 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.

Ozekhome 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.