EX-GOV JANG’S N6.3bn GRAFT CASE: Court orders trial-within-trial

The High Court sitting in Jos on Wednesday ordered a trial-within-trial in the N6.3 billion corruption case against former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang and former Cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Pam.

The presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Longji said the trial within trial was necessary to establish whether statement from the former Cashier indicting the former governor was obtained voluntarily.

Yusuf who is the second defendant had written a statement to be tendered before the court by a witness, Taiwo Olorunyomi, an Investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, (ICPC).

During the sitting on Tuesday, Mr Olorunyomi came to court with a statement alleged to have been written by the 2nd defendant when he was invited by ICPC.

The statement indicated that the cashier tool N2 billion from Plateau state project account as Classified Expenditure to the former Governor.

But Counsel to the second defendant, Sunny Odey, objected the Court to accept the statement as it was written under duress.

Read also: Abducted Lagos Fire Service boss, Rasaki Musibau, freed

When asked to deny or the authenticity of the statement, Pam said, “It is my statement, but I wrote it under duress, I was threatened.”

Odeu subsequently requested more time to prove that his client wrote the statement under duress.

Justice Longji said for fair hearing and for law to take its course, he adjourned the case to 25th and 26th April, 2019 for trial within trial

It will be recalled the duo were standing trial before Justice Longji on a 12-count charge bordering on diversion and misappropriation of N6.3 billion while in office.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now