BREAKING: Alleged N6.3bn fraud: Court acquits Jang, Yusuf Pam of criminal charges

A Plateau state high court in Jos has discharged and acquitted Jonah Jang, former governor of the state, of N6.3 billion corruption charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

Christy Dabup, the judge, in a judgement delivered on Friday, also discharged Jang’s co-defendant, Yusuf Pam, former cashier in the office of the secretary to the Plateau state government.

 

The former governor alongside his co-accused were first arraigned before Daniel Longji, a judge, in March 2018 on a 17-count charge bodering on misappropriation of N6.3bn belonging to the state government.

 

Upon arraignment, they pleaded not guilty.

 

However, the case started de novo before Christy Dabup following the retirement of the previous judge, Longji, in December 2019.

 

Counsel to the EFCC,  Rotimi Jacobs, and Mike Ozekhome, defence counsel had adopted their final addresses on July 14, 2022.

 

However, the court ruled in favour of the defendants and discharged them.