Court has exonerated former Governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang, over N6.3 billion corruption charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Christy Dabup of the State High Court sitting in Jos discharged and acquitted Jonah Jang who had been battling the corruption charges since March, 2018, after serving the state as governor between 2007 and 2015.
The EFCC had first arraigned Jang in 2018 alongside, one Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government.
They were first arraigned on 17-count for alleged misappropriation of N6.3bn state fund before Justice Daniel Longji. However, Justice Longji retired in 2019 after hearing the matter for about two years, thereby stalling further hearings on the case.
In 2020, the case started afresh after the state chief judge assigned Justice Dabup to it.
As the case went on, the last hearing eventually took place on July 14, 2022 as the prosecution lawyers led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and the defense team led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), gave their last written addresses.
At the ruling today, Justice Dabup discharged and acquitted both the former governor and the former cashier.
Some persons have taken to Twitter to react to the ruling.
“Senator Jonah Jang has been discharged and acquitted on all 17 count charges levelled against him and nobody wants to know if the judges are Christians or Muslims,
But when the Tribunal sacks PDP rep Musa Agah, declares PRP’s Alkali as winner.
people now wants to know if the judges are Muslims or Christian. What’s wrong with us in this state?”
