Jos High Court has granted bail to Senator Jonah Jang.

By Pam Moses

The Jos High Court has on Thursday 24, May, 2018 granted the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jang and the Former Cashier office of the Secretary of the Plateau State Government Mr Yusuf Pam Bail with two sureties each with the Sum of N100million and N50 million respectively.

Counsel to the accused persons, Robert Clarke (SAN) had on 16th May, 2018 in awritten application during the arraignment prayed the court to grant his clients bail based on self recognition, after both accused persons, Sen. Jang and Yusuf Pam pleaded not guilty to the crime.

While Responding the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, had also prayed the court not to grant the accused persons bail stating that section 341 (2) of the 1999 constitution states that an offence which an imprisonment of more than 3 years was not bailable.

In his ruling, Justice Longji, said that the prosecution’s submission that the accused would jump bail and interfere with investigations was a mere speculation and without proves.

He said he would not act on speculations to deny the accused bail, and thereby admitted Jang to bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties in like sum.

The Presiding Judge while ruling on the bail application by the Lead accused Counsel Robert Clarke (SAN) granting the bail condition said the first accused and former Governor Jang was to provide two sureties with the sum of 100 million naira only, among which one must be a first class traditional ruler within the jurisdiction of the Court.

While on the Second accused Mr Yusuf Pam a former cashier in the office of the Secretary of the State Government, Justice Longji also granted him bail to provide two sureties in which one must be Permanent Secretary in a Civil Service or anybody of that Rank.

Justice Longji also directed the first and the second accused to submit their international passport to the chief Registrar of the court.

The judge however adjourned the matter to July 17, 18 and 19 respectively for definite and accelerated hearing.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on Monday May 7, preferred a 12 count charge bordering on alleged corruption and misappropriation on Jang.

While Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos had on Wednesday 16th May, 2018 remanded Sen. Jonah Jang in prison custody pending the ruling of his bail on the 24th, May, 2018.

Sen. Jang who currently represents Plateau North Senatorial District, is alleged to have misappropriated over N6 billion two months to the end of his tenure as governor of Plateau State in 2015.

According to the charges, Jang is also said to have embezzled over N4 billion from the state coffers through a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, one Yusuf Pam, who is also charged along with Jang for also personally enriching himself with N11 million.

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Jos High Court grants bail to Senator Jonah Jang.