Senator Jang remanded in prison, hearing for bail application fixed for May 24

By Ebelechukwu Chibuikem

A High Court in Plateau State has ordered that Jonah Jang, a former Governor of the state be remanded in prison.

Jang is currently a Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District and has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), since May 7. He was arraigned on Wednesday.

The former governor is accused of misappropriating N6.3 billion belonging to Plateau State. Arraigned with him was Yusuf Pam, a former government official. They face a 12-count charge of diversion of public funds. The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon their arraignment, their lawyer, Robert Clark,filed an application for their bail.

He prayed the court to grant the former governor bail on self recognition, a plea opposed by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacob.

Jacob, the EFCC urged the presiding judge to consider the seriousness of the crime and the weight of the punishment.

“Any offence that exceeds three years should not be treated as ordinary and presumable for bail,” he said.

Daniel Longji, the presiding judge, said he would need time to analyse the arguments presented by the two parties regarding the bail application and consequently ordered that the two accused be reminded in prison till May 24, the date to which the case was adjourned, for ruling on the bail application.

“There is a situation here where the Law becomes an ass. 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,” Justice Longji said.

Before the ruling, the court had earlier struck out corruption charges filed against the senator by the Independent Corruption Practice and other related offensive Commission (ICPC) on the request of the commission.

The ICPC had withdrawn the charges against Jang noting that it wanted to avoid abuse of court process as Jang already charges filed against him by the EFCC.