Pic.7. Former Governor of Plateau, Sen Jonah Jang (M) being escorted by EFCC operatives during Jangs appearance at the high court for alleged case of corruption by the EFCC, in Jos on Wednesday (16/5/18).
02547/16/5/2018/ Sunday Adah/HB/BJO/NAN
A Plateau high court has remanded Jonah Jang, senator representing Plateau north senatorial district, in prison.
Jang, who has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), since May 7, was arraigned before the court on Wednesday.
He was accused of misappropriating N6.3 billion while serving as the governor of Plateau state.
Jang was arraigned by alongside Yusuf Pam, a former government official in the state, on a 12-count charge bothering on diversion of public funds.
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The duo pleaded not guilty to the offence, after which Robert Clark, their counsel, filed an application for their bail.
In particular, he urged the court to grant the ex-governor bail on self recognition, a plea which the prosecuting counsel opposed.
Rotimi Jacob, the EFCC counsel, urged the court to rather consider the seriousness and the weight of the punishment.
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“Any offence that exceeds three years should not be treated as ordinary and presumable for bail,” he said.
Thereafter, Daniel Longji, the presiding judge, said he would need time to analyse the arguments presented by the two parties regarding the bail application.
He therefore ordered that the two accused be remanded in prison till the adjourned date of May 24 for ruling on the bail application.
“There is a situation here where the Law becomes an axe. I have not studied the charges and I cannot use my personal knowledge of the accused persons to ask him to go on bail. They should be remanded in prison pending the ruling on his bail on Thursday next week,” he said.
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The court had earlier struck our corruption charges filed against the senator by the Independent Corruption Practice and other related offensive Commission (ICPC) on the request of the commission.
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