The Plateau state high court has directed officials of Jos Prisons to remand the immediate past governor of Plateau state Jonah Jang still 24th of May 2018.
This followed refusal of the court to grant the former governor, now senator representing Plateau northern senatorial district bail, after spending about nine days in EFCC custody in Abuja.
Efforts by counsel to the former governor Robert Clerks could not facilitate the bail during his arraignment in court by EFCC on Wednesday.
The former governor Jonah Jang is been accused alongside the former cashier in the office of the secretary to the state government (SSG), Yusuf Pam of misappropriation of public funds.
The two accused persons are been accused of diverting a total sum of 6.3 billion, the EFCC in a 12 court charge leveled against them by the agency at the Plateau state high court.
Both Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam, pleaded not guilty to the accusations against them; counsel to the accused persons Robert Clerks (SAN) therefore applied for bail of his clients, having pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN)opposed to the application of the accused persons, insisting that his clients, particularly (Jonah Jang) has tough credentials, as three times governor, a former Army General, and serving senator representing Plateau north, therefore might intimidate witnesses, if giving bail.
Rotimi Jacobs said granting bail to the accused will not be in the best interest of justice.
The presiding judge, justice Daniel Longji therefore ruled that the accused persons be reminded at the Jos prisons till next sitting, Thursday 24th, May 2018.
Meanwhile, the same court had earlier during Wednesday sitting strike out the charges filed by the Independent Corruption Practice and other related offensive Commission ICPC against the former governor Jonah Jang.
Counsel to ICPC Adeshino Raheem told the court that the commission (ICPC) withdraw the charges against Jang, according to the lawyer, is to avoid duplications of charges against the former governor.
There was panic at the court, earlier, the Publicity secretary of the All Progressive Congress APC, in Plateau state Chindo Dafat has debunked claims by the People’s Democratic Party PDP, that APC has plan to attack EFCC during arraignment of the former governor of Plateau state Jonah Jang this Wednesday, by EFCC over alleged financial fraud.
Hon Dafat in a telephone interview with our reporter said the claims by PDP were false accusations, baseless and unfounded.
“It is not true, APC members are responsible and law abiding, no one has plan to attack any one, not even EFCC, every court is a public place, so no can stop peaceful people from attending any court sitting. Am sure Jang won’t be trailed in camera, so people are bound to witness the proceedings.”
An earlier statement by the publicity secretary of PDP John Akans had in a press release Tuesday sent to Journalists in Jos, accused APC of a plan attack on officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFFC and supporters their party (PDP) during arraignment of Jang in court.
“It has come to the attention of the People’s Democratic Party that two notable Commissioners in the current administration have hatched plans to mobilize thugs to attack the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFFC and the teeming supporters of our party on Wednesday 16th May, 2018.”
