The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos yesterday discharged and acquitted former governor of Plateau State Senator Jonah Jang and cashier in the office of the secretary to the Plateau state government, Mr. Yusuf Pam, who were standing trial for allegedly embezzling N6.3bn of state funds.
Jang was governor of Plateau State from 2007 to 2015.
The two were being prosecuted before Justice C. L. Dabup by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for embezzling the money meant for small and medium scale enterprises and SUBEB funds.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dabup said the EFCC failed to prove the allegation of misappropriation, diversion of public funds entrusted to the former governor.
The court also quashed the 17 count charges levelled against them, saying the case lacked merit and hereby discharged and acquitted them.
Justice Dabup said the EFCC couldn’t prove the burden or establish beyond reasonable doubt allegations stressing that the court couldn’t secure any conviction brought by the prosecution under Section 135 subsections 1&2 of 2011 in line with the 1999 constitution as amended.
Counsel to Jang, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and S. Olewale applauded the court for doing justice to the case, saying it was victory for democracy.
Jang in his reaction commended the judiciary for standing firm on the side of truth and justice.
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