Jang’s alleged N6.2bn fraud: After seven witnesses, court fixes trial for Nov 11

Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau State High Court, sitting
in Jos, has adjourned to November 11, 2019 for continuation of
trial in the N6.2bn fraud charge brought against a former governor
of Plateau State, Jonah Jang by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.

Jang and his former aide, Yusuf Pam, a cashier at the Office of
the Secretary to the State Government, are facing trial for
allegedly diverting the state funds to personal use.

At the resumed trial on Thursday, October 31, prosecution
witness (PW11) Musa Sunday, told the court how the cashier at the
Government House delivered N750m cash to Jang during his tenure as
governor.

The witness, while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mike
Ozekhome, SAN, explained that the alleged N750m was meant for the
payment of salaries and emoluments of primary school teachers, and
not for the second defendant, Pam, whom he said withdrew the money
in cash for his boss, Jang.

While answering a question raised by Ozekhome that borders on
the properties acquired by Jang and the PW11’s involvement when Pam
handed over the cash to Jang, Sunday explained that there is
documentary evidence that money was given to Jang in bulk and his
confessional statement was tendered as exhibit before the
court.

Justice Longji, adjourned the matter to November 11, 2019 for
continuation of trial.

The court had on Wednesday October 30 heard from seven
witnesses, how over N6bn was allegedly moved out from different
banks by Jang and others,

It would be recalled that a Plateau State High Court sitting in
Jos, had ordered the EFCC to recall all the witnesses for fresh
re-examination in the N6.3bn charge it brought against Jang.

Justice Longji gave the order on Friday October 10, after ruling
on the fresh application by the anti-graft agency seeking to amend
the earlier charges, from counts 12 to 17.

At the resumed trial on Tuesday, October 29 counsel for the
first defendant, Edward Pwajok, presented the list of the seven
witnesses recalled for cross-examination to the court.

While testifying during cross examination, PW1, Director,
Development Finance Department, Central Bank Nigeria, CBN, Abuja,
Dr Musdashir Olaitan, said the payment of N2billion was made to
Project 1 Account and the funds were disbursed by CBN, with a valid
Memorandum of Understanding between the Plateau State and CBN.

He explained that the Plateau State government tendered an
account for the disbursement which they followed through by
disbursing the funds to the designated account.

On his part, the PW2, the relationship manager of Plateau State
Project 1 and Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Agency, PLASMEDA, accounts domiciled with Zenith Bank,
Uchenna Igwe, said; “I noticed an inflow of N2bn on March 17, 2015,
from CBN to Project 1 instead of PLASMEDA account. I communicated
my observations to the Commissioner of Finance and Accountant
General and an instruction was raised by the Accountant General
that the money be transferred to the PLASMEDA account, which is the
rightful account”, he explained.

“To the best of my knowledge, the money was not transferred to
the designated account but to Special Cabinet in tranches”.

Giving her account, PW12, Director of Finance, Plateau State
Universal Education Board, SUBEB, Mary Anthony Bawa, testified that
she discovered that N3bn was withdrawn from Plateau State SUBEB
account and that the first defendant directed that it should be
borrowed from the Plateau State SUBEB account.

“We discovered that these monies were borrowed in tranches with
the first trench of N2.079bn, which the first defendant directed
should be paid to other contractors and liabilities in the State.
Another N700m, was used as classified expenditure; also there was
another N400m that was also borrowed and used for classified
expenditures”, she stated.

“The official activities including renovation of schools,
furnishing and building of primary and secondary schools in Plateau
was suspended due to the negative impact of borrowing, hence SUBEB,
could not carry out the purpose of the fund”.

Boyi Kauki Sauki, PW7, a retired Accountant General of Plateau
State from August 25, 2011 to June 1, 2015, said as regards to the
transfers of N400m, N2bn and N750m from SUBEB, the Ministry of
Finance does not permit inter-agency borrowing.

In the same vein, PW6, a cash officer at Zenith Bank, Tashuk
Yakubu, narrated the role she played in coordinating cash
disbursement to customers.

“N200m was withdrawn from CBN and paid to Zenith Bank Plc in
N1,000 denominations and the monies paid was taken away in cash by
the second defendant.

Habila Dung, a former permanent secretary from December 2014 to
September 2015, during the first defendant’s tenure and the PW4,
explained that around March 2015, N750m was given to the first
defendant after cheques were signed by him and the Director of
Finance and Supplies to withdraw the monies approved and used as
classified expenditures.