Jonah Jang Did not Approve Transfer of SME Funds, EFCC Witness Tells Court

By Jide Afolabi

The trial of the former governor of Plateau State on amended charges on money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, tagged “Approval and Transfer” has taken a dramatic turn as the EFCC witness testified that the Senator Jang did not approve the said fund.

He told the Court that Jang did not attend the executive meeting where the sum of 220 billion naira SME fund was signed saying that it was signed by the then Deputy Governor, Ambassador Ignatius Longjam who signed on his behalf while the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele signed for the apex bank.

The PW9, Naman Jonah was invited to testify by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the ongoing trial of the former governor on money laundering on Monday, 18th November 2019 at the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital.

The witness attended the executive meetings throughout the eight years tenure of Jonah Jang and part of the current government of Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong.

He added that his duty was to take the proceedings of the meetings.

In further re-cross examination by the counsel to Jang, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), PW9 said the supplementary budget 2015 of the State was sent to the State House of Assembly according to the law, which was passed and assented to by the governor which made it a legal document.

While answering question on whether the governor need to go back to the state law makers to ask for clarification before salaries are paid, the witness said he did not know about that.

It would be recalled that the EFCC has moved an application to amend charges against the embattled former Governor over financial misappropriation’s bothering on money laundering.

The new amended charges came up with among other charges, “Approval and Transfer” which the counsel to the 1st respondent argued was alien in law but the application for the amendment of charges was however granted by the trial judge, Justice Daniel Longji.

The 1st and 2nd respondents in a swift reaction also moved an application for the EFCC to make available all the witnesses earlier cross-examined be made available for re-cross examination.

After arguments and counter arguments, the judge weighed into the matter by streamlining the re-cross examination only on the areas amended by the financial body.

The case was adjourned to 17th December 2019 in which the 1st and 2nd respondents will file a no-case submission.