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Tag: Jonah Jang

  • 2027: PDP remains strong, united inspite of internal wranglings —Jang

    2027: PDP remains strong, united inspite of internal wranglings —Jang

    Ex-Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang, has declared that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) remains united and formidable as ever at the national level devoid of faction since 1998.

    Jang also acknowledged that though some foundation members of the party have strayed, the party is still standing strong based on strength of genuine founding fathers of the party.

    Senator Jang stated this in his remarks at the party caucus by the Plateau North Senatorial District where the party unanimously endorsed the incumbent Gov Caleb Mutfwang, his deputy Josephine Puyo and Chris Hassan, the state PDP chairman for a second term in office.

    According to Senator Jang, “It made no sense to me when I hear founding members of PDP defecting to another party. How can a founding father abandon his own house? A true and genuine founding father will not abandon his house, no matter the level of provocation.

    “Even though some individuals who once claimed to be founding fathers of the party have strayed, I ask, can a true founding father abandon his own house? Many of you have held high positions on the platform of the PDP. Today, you jump here; tomorrow, you jump there, all in search of personal gain, not for the good of the people you claim to represent,” he said.

    Read Also: PDP wooing Obi with 2027 ticket, says Bala

    He pointed out that before the last general election, quite a number of the party stalwarts stood firm and insisted that since the late President Buhari hailed from the Northern part of the country and was about to complete his eight years, the presidency should be zoned to the Southern part of the country, adding that some manipulated the process and used resources, including the dollar, to force their way in as candidates.

    The former Governor of Plateau State further stated that the chairmanship position of the PDP should be returned to the North Central after the tenure of the incumbent chairman, Umar Damagum, to balance up the political equations.

    “We had it with Iyorcha Ayu, but he messed us up. After Damagun from the Northeast completes the tenure, they should return it to the North Central, where it originally belongs. We have the capacity to take the party to the next level. Therefore, let’s support the only governor of PDP from the Central Zone. Plateau State PDP must remain united as a political party; nothing will scare us because we know who we are and know where we stand.

    “Those who do not love the PDP cannot pretend to love it now. True love for the party shows in loyalty, not in political gymnastics. Today, we are here supporting and standing behind the only PDP governor in the North Central. That’s maturity. That’s responsibility.

    In the communique issued at the end of the Plateau North PDP caucus meeting, signed by the chairman of the zone, Mr. Davou Mang, the caucus passed a vote of confidence and endorsed the governor, his deputy, and all members of the state executives for the second term.

  • Alleged N2bn Fraud: Jang objects to submission of classified documents in court

    Former Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang on Friday objected to an attempt by a witness, Jonah Kabong, a Civil servant, to tender two classified documents in Court on behalf of the EFCC.

    According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the anti-graft agency had dragged Jang before a Plateau High Court for alleged money laundering while in office as governor between 2007 and 2015.

    Justice Daniel Longji, Chief Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), called Kabong as a prosecution witness for the production and submission of some documents.

    The documents were said be minutes of state executive council meetings classified as a “Top Secret” documents from the office of Secretary to the Plateau State Government (SSG).

    “My Lord, there are two documents that we asked this witness from the office of the SSG to produce for us, which we hope to tender before your lordship.

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

    “We apply to tender it as part of our evidence against the accused,” Jacobs announced.

    But Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to Jang, objected to the application.

    “My Lord, we are strongly objecting to that application because it’s not proper to tender documents that are classified and bagged a “top secret” before a law court.

    “We believe it’s going to be injurious particularly to the Plateau State. Classified documents are not for public consumption.

    “Our opposition to this dangerous attempt is not because we are afraid of anything,  but such documents by Law are not to be thrown open to the public, ” Ozekhome argued.

    Justice Longji after listening to the parties’ arguments adjourned the case to June 27 for ruling on the application.

    Earlier, Ozekhome had also punctured the testimonies of an ICPC Investigator, Mr Taiwo Olorunyomi, who early said that Jang had contravened the provisions of ICPC Act and that of the Plateau State House of Assembly by misappropriation of SUBRB N2 billion to another person project.

    Olorunyomi had claimed that Jang did not seek for approval from the House before borrowing the said N2bn to execute a different project thereby contravening the law.

  • N6b fraud: Court orders trial-within-trial in Jang’s case

    PLATEAU State High Court sitting in Jos yesterday ordered a trial-within-trial to ascertain if the statement, which the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) obtained from a former cashier of the Government House, Mr Yusuf Pam were voluntary.

    Justice Daniel Longji, who presided over the hearing in Jos yesterday gave the order following the disclosure that ICPC operatives compelled Pam to make written statements under duress.

    Pam is on trial at the State High Court with former Governor David Jang on a 12-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial crime amounting to over N6 billion.

    EFCC had alleged that Jang, who served as governor between 2007 and 2015, misappropriated the fund two months to the end of his administration in 2015, among others

    The duo had pleaded not guilty to the charges

    When the case came up yesterday, prosecutor Mr Rotimi Jacobs, had called the eighth witness, Mr Taiwo Olorunwoni, an investigator with ICPC, who testified how N2 billion belonging to the Plateau State Medium and Small Scale Enterprise Agency and another N3 billion of the state Universal Basic Education Board  (SUBEB) were withdrawn by  the cashier and taken to Jang

    Jacobs had sought to tender Pam’s written statementas evidence, but his move was objected to by defence counsel Mr Mike Ozekhome, who argued that the statements were not voluntarily obtained as confirmed by Pam, who told the court he was forced to write the statement at gunpoint by ICPC operatives.

    After arguments, prosecution and defence counsel agreed that the court should proceed on a trial-within-trial  to ascertain if the statements were voluntarily obtained by the commission or not.

    Justice Daniel Longji adjourned the case for a trial-within-trial to April 25 and 26

  • Court admits bank’s documents as evidence against Jang

    Plateau State High Court on Wednesday admitted banks documents tendered as evidence of fraud against former governor of Plateau state Jonah Jang.
    The court said it relied on section 83 and 84 of Evidence Act to admit a bank documents.
    Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and that of the accused Jonah Jang has urged reverently for two days trying to convince the court to accept the bank documents or dismiss it as evidence in the anti-corruption case.
    Jang is standing a trial in the court on charges of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the Governor of the state.
    The case had come up on Wednesday with the third prosecution witness, from Zenith Bank, Emmanuel Anja, a banker and marketer, led by the EFCC prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to testify.
    Anja told the court that he did not know the account of Plateau State government but he admitted knowing that of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. He also admitted that his main pre-occupation in the bank is relationship management whose basic duty is to manage the accounts on behalf of customers.
    He added that he was aware that his bank was asked to supply details to EFCC concerning transactions with the Plateau State Government and he identified all the documents presented as his.
    But Counsel to Jang, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had objected to the admissibility of the documents presented by Prosecution Witness (PW3), Emmanuel Anja, saying that no foundation was laid by the prosecution as to why Anja was the one tendering the documents before the court, adding that his name was not even written on the letter.

    Read Also: EFCC traces N500m assets to Jang

    Ozekhome said, “The signature on the document is that of John Olorundare of Compliance Department of the bank. In his evidence-in-chief, he told the court that he was a compliance officer but that he was in compliance department. So, tendering the documents put themselves in computer-generated evidence. It is a direct assault on Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.”
    He argued that it was wrong for the Prosecution Counsel to neither seek to tender document through a witness that was not a party to it nor know the content of the document.
    “My Lord, although the document appears to be the original, there is no foundation for the Prosecution Counsel to seek to tender it through the witness whose name is not on it neither does he know the content. This is a direct assault on Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act. I therefore urge the court to reject the document in its entirety.”
    He urged the court to reject the documents, citing many legal authorities to buttress his arguments.
    Also rejecting the document, Sunny Odey, Counsel to the second accused, Mr Yusuf Gyang Pam told the court that the person qualified to be the maker of the documents should be capable of taking responsibility of his contents. Odey pointed out that the documents cannot be tendered for the purpose and therefore urged the court that the documents be rejected.
    Having listened to the parties, the judge, Mr. Justice Daniel Longji adjourned ruling on the matter to Wednesday.
    Longji overruled the 1st and 2nd accused, saying he was relying on section 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act to rule that he document is admissible.
    He said the law is not ignorant and must not shut its eye to the mysteries of the computer in the modern days. He said not admitting the document will be like throwing a baby with the bathwater.
    Having admitted the document, the witness was then called up to testify.

  • PDP convention: Delegates, food vendors, posters adorn venue

    Delegates, food vendors, traders in various consumables, stickers and caps have set up canopies around the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, venue of the 2018 National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party.

    Some of the delegates have also been sleeping in vehicles parked within the open spaces around the stadium since Friday.

    Similarly, posters of the 13 aspirants jostling for the party’s Presidential ticket at the Convention conspicuously adorned streets leading to the stadium.

    The aspirants are: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Senator Bukola Saraki; Ibrahim Dankwambo; Rabiu Kwankwaso; Aminu Tambuwal; Ahmed Makarfi; and Jonah Jang.

    Read Also: Tight security as PDP holds national convention

    Others are: Senator David Mark; Sule Lamido; Atahiru Bafarawa; Tanimu Turaki; Datti Baba-Ahmed; and Stanley Osifo.

    The presence of Nigeria Police personnel and other security agencies were also noticeable around the stadium to maintain law and order.

    Praise singers with various musical instruments professing the virtues of their candidates also thronged the venue.

     

    NAN

  • Jang laments incessant killings on the Plateau

    Ex-governor of Plateau state and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial zone Jonah Jang has expressed sadness over continuous killings in his zone, saying the situation is becoming worrisome.

    Senator Jang who was responding to Thursday night killings of 15 people in Jos in a statement signed by his media consultant Garba Clinton said, “The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District Dr. Jonah David Jang with a heavy heart and deep sense of grief wishes to hereby condemn in the strongest possible terms, the invasion of Rukuba Road, Jos North Plateau State, a few kilometers from the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of Friday 28th September, 2018.

    “The unprovoked attack which targeted innocent unarmed natives in their homes once again reveals the very short life expectation of our people who are no longer safe wherever they are in our towns, villages, and city.

    “This recent surge of mindless killings in Plateau State is a damning appraisal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Plateau State. Under the present administration, hardly a day passes by without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen with ancestral lands forcefully occupied and people rendered homeless and internally displaced on their own land.

    Read Also: EFCC fails to present witnesses in Sen Jang’s case

    “Before we are all wiped out from the face of the earth by gunmen whose farmiliarization with murder and violence seem to confound our Armed Forces and the overall structure of government, the Senator without equivocation hereby calls on President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to resign with immediate effect having displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life.

    “In addition, it is the determination of Senator Jonah David Jang, that Nigerians no longer feel safe with General Muhammdu Buhari as President. Therefore, he wishes to call on the United Nations to intervene in Nigeria and act on behalf of the poor, innocent, and abandoned people of Plateau State and their endangered kinds in the Middle-belt, to protect and guarantee them a future of longevity, pride, and prosperity. A situation where security officials are mobilized to militarize the conduct elections in a ratio of one policeman to one citizen at the expense of communities prone to attacks is unacceptable.

    “While calling on the youths and people of Plateau State to be law abiding, the Senator finds it instructive to admonish them to rise up to defend themselves within the perimeters of the law, as it is now dangerous to trust the Commander-in-chief with our security.

    “Importantly, the Senator representing Plateau North is using this medium to call on the Armed Forces to live up to their sworn duty to protect  Nigerians before the public completely loses faith in them”

  • Plateau killings: Senate mulls state police

    The Senate on Tuesday mandated its committee on constitution review to urgently initiate moves for the establishment of state police.

    The senators were piqued by the latest spate of senseless killings in Plateau State and the seeming hopelessness of the security agencies in tackling the violence across many states in the North Central.

    Senator Adamu Aliero, (APC, Kebbi Central) had during a debate, set the stage for the need to establish state police.

    He narrated how one of his aides was burnt to death when he ran into attackers on a Plateau highway.

    Many of the lawmakers agreed with Aliero, as they vehemently rebuffed objection raised by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central) on the matter.

    The debate followed a motion moved by Senator David Jonah Jang (PDP, Plateau South), who condemned the wanton killings of some of his constituents penultimate Sunday.

    Jang lamented what he described as the helplessness of the security agencies, particularly the police in responding to the attacks.

    The former governor, in the motion, said 155 people were killed in the attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

    According to him, 98 of the victims were from Mangu local government area of the state.

    He lamented that the attacks went on for several hours without any of the security agencies coming to the rescue of the victims.

    Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said as long as Nigeria failed to get it right in terms of policing, the senseless killings would continue.

     

  • EFCC quizzes ex-governor Jang

    EFCC quizzes ex-governor Jang

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday quizzed a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, over his tenure.

    Jang had allegedly spent N747.65billion in eight years but a Transition Committee led by Prof. Sonni Tyoden said he left a debt profile of N222.3billion at the end of his tenure on May 29, 2015.

    Jang, however, insisted in his handover notes that he left a debt of N103.9billion.

    Although the ex-governor was given administrative bail on Tuesday night, his interrogation will continue on Wednesday.

  • No-work-no-pay: Plateau Govt. reverses policy, redeems workers’ salary

    No-work-no-pay: Plateau Govt. reverses policy, redeems workers’ salary

    The Plateau Government on Tuesday commenced payment of workers in 17 councils of the state who suffered the no-work-no-pay policy of former Governor, Jonah Jang.

    Jang had  in 2014, refused to pay workers four months’ salaries when they went on strike in protest over non-implementation of payment of their minimum wage during the period.

    Mr Paul Seku, Chairman, Plateau Central Zone Committee on Payment of No-work-no-pay for Local Government Staff, disclosed this during the committee’s visit to the Chairman of Pankshin Local Government.

    “We are in this council today to commence the payment of the No-work-no-pay to all the local government staff of this council and the remaining four local governments within the Plateau Central Zone including, Mangu, Bokkos, Kanke and Kanam.

    “This is in fulfillment of the promise made to the staff by our loving Governor Simon Lalong, when he asked the workers to withdraw the court case in Abuja for amicable settlement.

    “We are starting with Pankshin Local Government, and thereafter, move to other local governments where we hope to complete payment within this week, ’’  Sheku pledged.

    Sheku, who is also the Director General, Plateau Debt Management Committee, explained that the verification would give the committee the opportunity to pay one month out of the four months owed the workers in cash.

    According to him, “after this payment, the remaining three months salaries will be paid to them through their accounts in their various banks’’.

    Responding, Mrs Naomi Golmwen, Chairman, Pankshin Local Government, expressed happiness over the magnanimity of  Gov. Lalong and described it as a welcome development.

    She expressed the hope and belief that the payment of the fund would go a long way to mobilise the people of Pankshin to retain the governor in 2019.

    “This is a long awaited goodwill of the governor that has become a reality today; our community depends largely on salary, and I believe the payment will touch many homes and build their confidence on the government.

    “To us as politicians and leaders, it will build a strong support for us to go all and mobilise the people for their cooperation and support for this administration both now and come 2019, when we shall seek their mandate, ’’ she said.

    Golmwen assured the committee of the orderliness of the council’s staff and advised the cashiers to cooperate with the committee for successful verification and payment.

    The Council NULGE Chairman, Mr Pankyes Benwuk, described the exercise as a “dream come true’’ and commended Lalong for keeping to his promise.

    “We hope that the four months being owed us will be completely settled before the end of this year as early pledged by the government, ’’ Benwuk said.

  • Chris Giwa defects to PDP, says it holds key to better Nigeria

    Chris Giwa defects to PDP, says it holds key to better Nigeria

    Mr Chris Giwa, ACN candidate for the Plateau governorship seat in 2011, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, who was received at the party’s secretariat in Jos on Thursday, said that he opted for the PDP because he was convinced that it held the key to a better Nigeria.

    “Nigerians have tested and tasted the PDP and the APC; from experience, the average Nigerian believes that PDP is a better option. I have opted to go with the majority,” he said.

    Giwa, who said that he had “no immediate ambition”, promised to work for the return of Sen. Jonah Jang (PDP, Plateau North), to the senate in 2019.

    In an address to welcome Giwa, Jang said that the PDP in Plateau was intact and ready to regain power in 2019.

    “We had a setback in 2015 but we have put that behind and moved on. The defeat was a temporary setback that has made up stronger after realising our mistakes,” he said.

    Jang cautioned PDP members against the temptation to jump ship simply because the party was out of power, and declared that those doing so would regret “very soon”.

    He stressed the need for the PDP to remain united, saying that a divided opposition had no chance against an incumbent government.

    “As your leaders, we will do everything within our powers to ensure that the PDP remains a strong and united entity.

    “It is good to have an ambition, but no ambition is more than the PDP because it is the platform through which we can achieve such ambitions,” he said.

    Jang assured PDP members that there would be no imposition of candidates, and advised those interested in seeking elective positions to reach out to the people.

    Plateau PDP Chairman Damishi Sango in his remarks said that the party was stronger with Giwa in its fold.

    Sango tasked members on discipline, noting that nothing would be achieved if members were not focused and discipline toward achieving set goals.

    “The party is supreme; every member must respect it,” he said.

    Other top PDP members that welcomed Giwa included Sen. Jeremiah Useni (PDP, Plateau South), national and state assembly members, as well as former ministers and commissioners.