The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gov. Simon Lalong

  • Useni heads to court, rejects Lalong’s victory

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau state and its governorship candidate Jeremiah Useni have declared results of the supplementary poll declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as unacceptable

    The main opposition party also vowed to challenge the victory of Gov Simon Lalong in court.

    “The mandate given to PDP by the majority of people of Plateau state has been stolen by PDP and we will follow all the legal processes to reclaim our stolen mandate,” Useni said in Jos shortly after Lalong was declared winner.

    According to him: “My team and I have gone through both the official results released by INEC and the documents submitted by our own field staff.

    “We have every reason to believe that justice has so far not been done to our people in this election, because of massive rigging and electoral shortcomings.

    “After due consultation, I hereby state that the results announced by INEC are not acceptable to us.

    “Consequently, we have requested our legal team to activate all the due processes to reclaim our cherished mandate. I give you my word that we will pursue this matter diligently, and by the grace of God, we will overturn and recover the people’s mandate.

    “The *Restoration* Agenda is for the soul of Plateau State, until its glory is restored. I thank all leaders, stakeholders, members and supporters of the PDP for their commitment, hard work and sacrifices so far.

    “Your labour will not go in vain. I appeal to all of us to unite all the more now and avoid any bickering and blame-giving. Unity of purpose must be the source of our strength.

    “Let us remain focused on the struggle and avoid anything else that will distract and divide us. I want you to know that it is not yet over. This is only a temporary setback. We have entered another critical stage.

    “Let us stand together for God and for Plateau State.”

  • Lalong seeks support to deliver dividends of democracy in Plateau

    Gov Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who retained his office after Saturday’s supplementary polls,  is seeking the support of Plateau people to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.

    The governor was declared the winner of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday in Jos, said the support of Plateau people and political stakeholders would ensure the success of his mandate to develop the state.

    “I am humble, I was voted again to serve Plateau for another tenure to move it to greater heights . We need unity and peace to move this state to the next level.

    ” Core values of team spirit, mutual respect and tolerance are required for sustainable peace and a good working relationship in the state and I promise to discharge my duties diligently and selflessly , “he said.

    Read also: Breaking: Gov Lalong declared winner in Plateau

    Lalong commended INEC, security agencies, the media and voters for the peaceful and successful rerun elections in the State, saying it was one of the most peaceful nationwide.

    Lalong was declared winner with 595,582 votes after beating his close rival, Gen. Jeremiah Husseini of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who got 546,813 votes. (NAN)

  • N6.3bn fraud: ‘Lalong, Jang security fund expenditures similar’

    Mr Habila Dung, a prosecution witness in the N6.3 billion fraud case against Sen. Jonah Jang, has said that the former Plateau governor’s style of expending security funds was not peculiar to him.

    “Jang’s way of handling security funds is not new; it is the same way his successor, Gov. Simon Lalong, is doing it,” Dung, former Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services, told the Plateau State High Court trying Jang, on Friday in Jos.

    Dung is the fourth prosecution witness in the case brought against Jang and Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the Plateau Government House.

    The accused persons are being tried over the alleged fraud said to have been committed between Sept. 2010 and Oct. 2014.

    They are facing 12 count charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering allegedly committed when Jang was the governor of the north-central state.

    The anti-graft agency is alleging that the defendants had conspired to defraud the state of the said amount (N6.3bn), via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under, sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011, as amended.

    The former permanent secretary had, on Thursday, told the trial Judge, Justice Daniel Longji, that all withdrawals made by Pam were taken to Jang for disbursement to the 17-member State Security Council.

    But, while being cross-examined on Friday by Jang’s counsel, Mr Mike Ezekhome (SAN), Dung said that the practice of withdrawing security funds from the state coffers by a cashier and delivering same to the Governor in his office, was not peculiar to Jang.

    “The practice is still on-going, long after Jang left office in May 29, 2015. The current governor is doing the same. So, it is nothing new.

    “I was the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, between Dec. 2014 and Sept. 6, 2015.

    “Once there is a security challenge, the governor will ask me to raise a memo for a certain amount which will be withdrawn by the cashier and taken to the governor,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Ezekhome produced documents indicating withdrawals done between July 1 to Oct. 7, 2015 in eight different bank statements by Yusuf Pam and his successor, Erick Kangnan, to further confirm that such withdrawals were “a normal trend with both the Jang and Lalong administrations.

    “Will I, therefore, be correct to say that during Gov Jang’s and Gov Lalong’s tenures, while you were the permanent secretary, and when Yusuf Pam and Erick Kangnan were cashiers, the same pattern was adopted?’’ Ezekhome asked, to which Dung answered, “yes sir, the pattern was the same.’’

    “The same pattern used in withdrawing security funds tagged as `classified expenditures’ during Governor Jonah Jang is still the same pattern within the administration of Lalong,’’ Dung reaffirmed to the court.

    Read also: Court admits bank’s documents as evidence against Jang

    The defence counsel asked the prosecution witness whether he had ever seen Pam (2nd accused), delivering any of the withdrawn funds to Jang in his office, to which he answered in the negative.

    On whether he had ever seen Jang putting any such monies in the booth of his car to take home or heard anybody said he/she saw him (Jang), doing that when he was governor, Dung answered, “not at all sir.’’

    The defence counsel also asked Dung whether he had ever heard any of the beneficiaries of the security funds complaining that Jang ever denied him/her of his/her allowance, and the to prosecution witness said that no one had ever complained.

    On whether the same security challenges Jang faced as governor were faced by Governor Lalong when he (Dung), was still in office as permanent secretary in the cabinet office, Dung answered in the affirmative.

    According to him, Lalong was facing the same security challenges and was withdrawing and expending security funds “the same way”.

    Justice Longji has adjourned the case to March 5, 6 and 7, 2019 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

  • Lalong signs law to end transfer of suspects to Abuja for trial

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Tuesday signed the Administration of Criminal Justice bill into law, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
    The law, among other provisions, has put to a stop, the constant transfer of criminal suspects to Abuja for trial.
    The governor, in a brief remark after signing the bill into law, said that it would reinforce the framework for the effective prosecution of criminal cases in the state.
    “We have often had cases of people suspected of committing crimes in Plateau, moved to Abuja for trial. That has ended from today,” he said.
    NAN reports that the bill was among the three endorsed by the Plateau chief executive.
    Others included the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency Law, 2017, and the Penal Code of Plateau State, 2018.
    Lalong expressed confidence that the laws would ensure quick dispensation of justice in the state.
    He commended the efforts of the three arms of government –  executive, legislature and the judiciary – that ensured the speedy passage of the bill into law.
    The signing of the bills into law was witnessed by Mr Joshua Madaki, Speaker, Plateau House of Assembly, and Justice Yakubu Dakwak, Chief Judge of the state. (NAN)
  • Plateau: Fayemi, NSA orders closure of illegal mining sites

    Plateau: Fayemi, NSA orders closure of illegal mining sites

    Dr Fayemi Kayode, Minister of Mines & Steel Development and Gen. Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser (NSA), have directed an immediate closure of illegal mining sites in Plateau.

    The duo gave the directive on Monday when they, in the company of Gov. Simon Lalong, visited mining sites at Campania Zurak in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.

    They also ordered the arrest of staff of a mining company, including some Chinese nationals, and be taken to Abuja for interrogation.

    According to them, the Federal Government has warned that it will no longer tolerate any act of sabotage on the nation’s economy.

    Fayemi said that his ministry was responsible for issuing licences to mining companies and that the one operating in Zurak had not approached the ministry for a licence.

    The minister said that the ministry was determined to check illegal mining in the country.

    He said that doing such would boost the country’s revenue and contribute significantly to the diversification of the country’s economy.

    Gov. Lalong said the measure marked the beginning of the fight against illegal mining on the Plateau.

    Lalong said if the mineral deposits were properly harnessed, the state would not rely on federal allocation to survive.

    According to him, Plateau is blessed with abundant minerals that can sustain the state economy.

    Rep Idris Maje, (Wase Federal Constituency), said the illegality had persisted for almost a decade with the aid of some security agents.

  • Lalong loses appeal against sacked Councillors

    Lalong loses appeal against sacked Councillors

    The Court of Appeal in Jos, on Wednesday threw out an appeal filed by Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau state, against 271 elected councillors he sacked in July 2015.

    The sacked councillors, through their counsel, Mr Gyang Zi, had sued Lalong, the Plateau Attorney General and the State House of Assembly, over their removal from office.

    The officials, whose three-year tenure was truncated in its first year, described their removal as “illegal and unconstitutional’’.

    Collectively, they filed a case against the trio before Justice David Mann of State High Court III, in Jos.

    But the governor challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and its decision to take the preliminary objection along with the substantive case.

    Lalong failed in that suit and quickly appealed against the ruling.

    The governor, through his counsel, Mr Victor Paul, prayed the appellate court to set aside the decision of the lower court.

    He also sought an order that the preliminary objection of his clients should be heard first, before the substantive suit.

    But the appellate court, presided by Justices A.G. Mshelia (lead Judge), A.H. Abiru and E.O. Williams, rejected Lalong’s objection to the decision of the lower court.

    While upholding the decision of the lower court, the appellate court declared that there was nothing wrong with the lower court hearing both the substantive and the preliminary objection simultaneously.

    The judges declared that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it.

    The councillors’ counsel, Zi, in his reaction to the judgement, described the stance of the appeal court justices as “very satisfactory and a further testimony to the fact that there was hope for the common man”.

    “We are happy that the appellate court saw reasons with the decision of the lower court and upheld it by dismissing the appeal of Gov. Lalong,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “My clients will go back to the High Court to pursue their rights, having been wrongfully sacked by the state government,” he said.

  • Why I rejected ambassadorial nomination – Tallen

    Why I rejected ambassadorial nomination – Tallen

    A former deputy governor of Plateau, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has  said that she turned down her ambassadorial nomination in order to be fair to other parts of the state in terms of federal appointments.

    Tallen, a former Minister of Science and Technology and Labour Party governorship candidate in Plateau in 2011, made this known in Abuja on Monday.

    “I hail from the same local government and tribe with Gov. Simon Lalong. I turned down the nomination because of balancing of appointments; I don’t think it is right for me to accept the appointment.

    “Secondly, proper consultation was not done, my governor was not consulted because I called him when he was in United States of America to ask but he said that he was not aware.

    “For me, I was consulted and I turned down the appointment even before the announcement was made,” adding that “my husband’s ill-health is another reason why I will not accept the appointment.

    Tallen said that Mr President gave her another option and also assured her that Plateau would not miss its two slots.

    The former deputy governor, who appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour, said that her name was not included on the list of nominees and was surprised when the announcement was made.

    She further said that her decline would not affect Plateau chances for the two slots as another name had already been submitted in her stead.

    Meanwhile Gov. Simon Lalong has described Tallen’s decline as an exhibition of political maturity.

    “Plateau is always on the front-burner when it comes to politics, that shows her maturity not just in Plateau but as a national figure.

    “Once things are not done properly, it is better for a leader and a mother to come out and say that things are not done properly in the interest of the state.

    “When I heard the announcement I was very shock because what happened was without proper consultation,” he said while interacting with newsmen in Abuja.

    The governor said that his administration was working toward addressing the issue of balancing appointments, and pointed out that he had already discuss the issue  with Mr President in their last meeting.

    Lalong said that the opposition was already saying that the appointments were lopsided, but stressed his administration was a government of change and they would only do what would favour all sections of the state.

    He appreciated Tallen for her decision, and assured the people that their quota would be filled and he would go further to ensure that  distinguished sons and daughters of Plateau get more appointments.

  • I will not rest until we get killers of Agai – Gov. Lalong

    I will not rest until we get killers of Agai – Gov. Lalong

    Gov. Simon Lalong on Wednesday said he will not rest until those behind the killing of the Saf Ron Kulere, Chief Lazarus Agai, were arrested and prosecuted.

    Lalong, who paid a condolence visit to the Bokkos Traditional Council and people of the area, said he would work with security agencies to ensure that the killers were found and brought to justice.

    Agai, a first class chief in Bokkos Local Government was killed on Monday alongside his driver, orderly and daughter in-law by unknown persons.

    The killing of monarch sparked reprisal attacks among ethnic groups in the area resulting in burning of houses, destruction of properties and displacement of hundreds of persons.

    “We will investigate and fish out the culprits.

    “I commend security agencies for the way they have so far handled the matter to avoid escalation, it would have been worse than this if not for their prompt intervention”, Lalong said.

    The governor assured the people that more security personnel would be deployed to Bokkos and Sha, where the paramount ruler was killed.

    He said Agai was a man of many attributes and lived his life advocating peace and unity in his domain and would be greatly missed.

    He, however, urged the people to remain calm and not take laws into their hands as government would do everything within its powers to address the situation.

    Lalong said relief materials would immediately be sent to those that were displaced as a result of the sad incident.

    President, Plateau Traditional Council and Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba called for thorough investigation of the heinous killing of their members which he said was becoming a recurring issue.

    The Gbong Gwom urged people to always volunteer information to the security agents to enable them to fish out evil doers in the land.

    Saf Ron Bokkos, Monday Adanchin who received the governor and his entourage, appreciated Lalong for cutting short his journey abroad to sympathise with them.

    Adanchin said that the Bokkos Traditional Council was comforted with the visit of the governor.