Court discharge, Acquitted Jonah Jang over alleged 6.3bn Corruption Charge
AREWA AGENDA – From the High Court of Justice Gyang Bere, sitting in Jos, Plateau State
has discharged and acquitted former Governor of Plateau State, Sen. Jonah David Jang who was standing trial for alleged diversion of N6.3 billion during his tenure as governor.
Justice Christy Dabup who delivered the judgement on Friday in Jos knocked down all the 17 count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The Judge discharge and acquitted Jang and Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government who were both standing trial over an alleged misappropriation of public fund amounting to over N6.3bn
She established that of all the witnesses that appeared before the court, non was able to established beyond reasonable doubt that Jang and Pam misappropriated the said fund.
Delivering her judgement on Friday, Justice Dabup said “The court has considered all the arguments and evidences before it and the matter is hereby dismiss for lack of merit.”
Reacting to the Judgement, Counsel to Jonah Jang, Mike Ozekhome SAN said, “The case before Jonah David Jang has been discharged and acquitted by the High Court of Plateau State after the four and half year trial.
“The case started on the 4 May, 2018 With the counts amended on the 30 of September, 2019. Between May 2018 and today 2 September, 2022 Jang has been going through the ordeal of a criminal trial, being prosecuted by the EFCC.
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“Today, Jonah Jang has been discharged and acquitted by the court of all the 17 count charges, so he is now a free man as the bird that fly on the sky. The Judge analysed all the exhibit tendered and analysed all the testimony of the 14 witnesses, 95 of all the witnesses testified in favour of Jonah Jang.”
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolabi who spoke to Journalists after the Judgement said the Judge analysed all the witnesses and discharged Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam of all the 17 count charges.
“The case was brought before a new Judge after the retirement of the first Judge and 14 witnesses were brought and tendered more documents before the one that were tendered before the former Judge.
“The defendants surprisingly rested their case on that of the prosecution and it went straight to address and judgement and now the Judge has ruled that, of all the 17 counts, non of the counts was established beyond reasonable doubt.
“But for now, we have not seen the complete copy of the Judgement, we will get and review the judgement and decide whether we will go on appeal.” He state.
Senator Jonah Jang who reacted to the Judgement said that the truth will always prevail at the end of every matter no matter how long it takes.
“I dedicate my victory in the court to God and the people of Plateau State with whom we worked to build a prosperous land. I thank the entire legal team led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN and Barrister Edward Pwajok SAN, my family who suffered all kinds of harassment and denigration through this period for standing firm and believing with me that it was only a phase that would pass.”
He said further, “I must confess that I had known from the onset that leadership was not an easy task but I stepped out to make a difference, having been a Military Administrator in two states. The benevolence of the Plateau people and the grace of God made me the Governor of Plateau State from 2007-2015.
“My previous experience as a Military Administrator and the driving force which was to leave a mark on the plateau as I did in my previous assignments never changed.” He stated.
