How Ex Governor Jang Collected over 4 Billion Naira Without Payment Vouchers

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar 

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Habila Dung, has Thursday, said that former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has at different occasions , directed him to prepared memos for the withdrawal of about N4bn, between January to May 2015.

Mr. Dung, a former Permanent Secretary, cabinet office between 2014 to 2015, also told the Plateau State High Court, that in all the monies spent by the Governor, there no payment vouchers to that effect.

Recall that, former Governor Jonah Jang, and Yusuf Gyang Pam, are standing trial on 17 count charge bothering on alleged misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, and breach of public trust, to the tune of N6.3b.

The former Permanent Secretary, said the office of the Secretary to the State Government has two account with Zenith Bank, “the first account is that of the cabinet and special services, and the second was for overhead/ political office holders account.”

He said the signatories to the accounts were the two permanent Secretaries, and the director of finance and supply at the cabinet office.

Mr. Dung said all memos raised on the instructions of Governor Jonah Jang, and withdrew by former cashier Mr. Yusuf Gyang Pam, are under the name of, “Classified Expenditures.”

“The classified expenditure was raised when the Governor instructed for it, after doing so I took it to the Governor for approval,” he said.

Mr. Dung been lead in by Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob SAN, said all the monies were taken to the former Governor at his office, severally, adding that, “I was there twice when the money was brought to him.”

“All the monies were given to the Governor without any payment vouchers.

Mr. Dung further told the court that on the 8 of April 2015, the sum of N700m were withdrawn by the second defendant, in the sum of N10m into 70 trenches.

“I don’t know how the Governor spent the money after giving it to him,” he told the court.

Justice Christine Dabup adjourned hearing on the matter to a later date for cross examination of the witness by defence counsel Edward Pwajok.

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