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Jang: Court Reserves Judgement In Alleged Fraud Case
A Plateau State High Court, yesterday, reserved judgement in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the prosecution of former Governor Jonah Jang and a former cashier with the state government, Yusuf Pam, over an alleged N6.3billion fraud.
The trial judge, Justice Christy Dabup, who reserved ruling on the four-year case, said the date will be communicated to the parties involved in the suit.
The state High Court arrived at the decision after both the prosecution and the defence counsels adopted their written addresses.
At the resumed hearing of the case in Jos, yesterday, lead counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, brought two applications asking the court to grant it leave to appeal an earlier ruling by the court against the anti-graft agency during the trial-within-trial.
However, counsel to the second defendant, Sunday Odey, opposed the applications, and urged the court to go ahead with the business of the day since the applications had no bearing on the adoption of their final addresses which were slated for the court’s proceedings.
After a hot argument between both parties, counsel to the EFCC eventually conceded to the defense counsels that the business of the day, which was the adoption of written addresses, should go on as slated.
In his address, Lead Counsel to Jang, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the court to dismiss all the charges against his client and set him free because the prosecution had not proven his case beyond any reasonable doubts.
Ozekhome said, “We only have one question we have formulated concerning this case. Of all the monies which they claimed my client took, where are they? We took all the 14 witnesses called by the prosecution, and asked them one after the other, and none of them said they saw or link any money in my client’s bank account, his wife or any of his relatives or anyone else. Where are these billions?
“The EFCC just created its own offence in order to get at the defendant.
“Without regard to the court, the EFCC instead of complying with the court order to file 30-page written address decided to file 151-page written applications. In spite of that, the prosecution filed another 37-page reply making 188 pages. I think the learned council ought to have sought leave of the court to apologise. I’m surprised that the entire address suffers repetitiveness and verbosity all geared toward pulling the wool over the eyes of the court.
“I urge my Lord to discharge and acquit my client of all the charges and set him free because,an address, no matter how brilliant, cannot take the place of legal proof and evidence”.
The Lead Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, in urging the court to uphold his case,said “I did not go against my Lordship’s order because no such order for a specific number of pages for the written address was given by the court.
“We did not base our own address on our own formulation but by the evidence given to the court.
“The question of whether any money was seen in any place is not the case of the prosecution. The second defendant admitted that monies were withdrawn and taken to him (Jang).
“What is he (Jang) doing with N5billion as governor between January and May, 2015? It’s so clear that the defendants have no answer to the prosecution’s case, and at the end of the day, justice will prevail”.
Counsel to the second defendant, in his address, also urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s case, and insisted that his client did nothing wrong to warrant his prosecution.
Justice Christy Dabup, thereafter, adjourned the case for ruling, saying, “the ruling for this case will be at a date to be communicated later”.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
