The Plateau High Court’s decision to release and acquit Senators Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam of charges of corruptly receiving N6.3 billion has been challenged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren on Friday said “The Commission has initiated processes for an Appeal immediately” in a statement seen on the anti-graft body’s official Twitter page.
Peoples Gazette had reported that the Jos court discharged and acquitted Senator Jonah Jang having found no evidence of fraud in the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
Mr Jang, a former governor of Plateau and Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government have been standing trial since May 4, 2018.
The EFCC dragged the duo to court over 17 count charges bothering on diversion and misappropriation of state funds.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Christen Dabup, who delivered the judgement, said that the court did not find Messrs Jang and Pam guilty of any of the charges.
“The court did not find the accused persons guilty of any of the charges and they are hereby discharged and acquitted,” she said.
Reacting to the judgment, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the defense counsel, said that the court found no merit whatsoever in any of the 17 count charges.
Mr Ozekhome said that EFCC charges were nothing but lies without proof that the former military governor of Benue and old Gongola diverted the said money for personal use.
