CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – A Plateau State High Court has adjourned determination of the application for bail filed by Senator Jonah David Jang who is being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on allegations of diverting funds.
Making the adjournment today when the anti-graft agency arraigned the Senator and one Yusuf Gyang Pam, the presiding judge of the State High Court 5, Justice Daniel Longji, noted after entertaining the address and counter address of the defence and the prosecution, that “the issue as it is too contentious, and will prefer to rule on the matter another day after due consideration of all the circumstances”.
Justice Longji, who objected to the prayer of the EFCC lawyer that the Senator and his co-accused be returned to the Commission’s custody in Abuja, ordered the duo to be remanded in the Jos prison custody until Thursday, May 24 when the court will rule on the bail application.
The presiding Judge, who was attorney general of Plateau in the administration of former governor, Joshua Dariye, and was later appointed judge in the Plateau State judiciary by the same administration, earlier granted the defence counsel leave to withdraw an earlier application for bail made on May 9 and reinforce the one of May 14 with supportive affidavit.
The EFCC has filed a 12-count charge against Senator Jang and Yusuf Pam Gyang, alleging that the duo diverted about N4.4 billion meant for the Central Bank of Nigeria micro-finance business development programmed. The accused have pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
