The former governor of Plateau state Dr Jonah David Jang who was last week Wednesday remanded at the Jos prisons was given bail today (Thursday) during bail application sitting at the Plateau state high court 5 Jos.
The accused, former governor was asked to provide two sureties, one must be a first class with the sum of 100 million naira and also deposits his international passport including the international passport of the accused with the court before he can be granted bail.
The second surety shall be for the second accused person Yusuf Pam, who shall also deposit the sum of 50 million naira with the court, before he can be granted bail.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding judge Justice Daniel Longji there will be an accelerated hearing on the case, said trial shall commenced 17th 18th and 19th July 2018.
The Da Jacob Gbong Gwom Jos, Gyang Buba, the highest traditional ruler of Berom speaking people of Plateau state, who is also the chairman, council of chiefs in Plateau state was at the court after the bail application sitting and bailed his subject Jonah Jang.
The Paramount ruler the Gbong Gwom Jos, later met the conditions and secured the bail for Jang.
The former governor who is the serving senator representing Plateau north Senatorial district at the national assembly, is been accused alongside a former cashier in the office of the SSG Yusuf Pam of diverting 6.3 million naira belonging to the Plateau state government, while serving as governor of the state.
Reacting on the bail conditions given to his client, in an interview with Journalists at the court premises, lead counsel to Jonah Jang Robert Clarke (SAN) said he was satisfied with the bail conditions, said the conditions are not too stringent to be met.
Mr. Clarke said the accusations against his clients can be trashed out during trials, said his legal team are prepared to handle the case and get justice.
On his part, a counsel to EFCC Oluwaleke Atolagbe said his clients (EFCC) are not against bailing of Jonah Jang from the court.
The former governor of Plateau state Jonah Jang who was this morning (Thursday) granted bail by the Plateau state high court Jos, speaks on his detention shortly after he was freed, said his detention by the court was illegal.
“If the laws of our country are still potent under the current circumstances, my detention constitutes a gross abuse of the fundamental rights guaranteed me as a law-abiding citizen as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.”
Dr. Jang in a press release, which he personally appended his signature on, shortly after he was freed from the court, expressed disappointments with the process of his detention at Jos prisons last Wednesday.
Jang in the statement said the judiciary did not accord him his freedom of association.
“For over a week, I was kept in detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), deprived of the inalienable right to personal freedom and association.”
Senator Jang speaks “For over a week, I was kept in detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), deprived of the inalienable right to personal freedom and association. If the laws of our country are still potent under the current circumstances, my detention constitutes a gross abuse of the fundamental rights guaranteed me as a law-abiding citizen as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. Where the constitution provides for an accused person to be charged to court within one day, I was held by the EFCC for over a week in flagrant disregard to the letters and spirit of the supreme document which legitimizes the very existence of our country. My lawyers have instituted a case at the FCT high court and I shall pursue it to its logical conclusions.”
Added that “As Governor of Plateau State in the 8years entrusted to me, my preoccupation was the welfare, wellbeing, and security of the people. My work was dedicated to opening new frontiers and elevating our state and people to a status commensurate with the expectations of a world which has changed tremendously. A testament of that can be easily identified in all 17 Local Government Areas of the State, and other strategic areas within the governance landscape.”
It will be recalled that EFCC had detained Jang for nine days in it custody at Abuja before arraigning him in court on 14th of May 2018, the former governor has been on administrative bail of the EFCC since December 2017.
