Ex-Governor Jonah Jang remanded in prison

The Plateau State High Court has remanded a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, in Jos prison.

The court made the decision after it denied an application by Mr Jang’s counsel, Robert Clarke, for his bail following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.

Mr Jang, who is currently the senator representing Plateau North district, is facing a 12-count charge of diverting N6.3 billion alongside a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Pam.

They were alleged to have committed the offence while Mr Jang was governor of the state.

After pleading not guilty to the charges; their counsel, Mr Clarke, applied for their bail.

But prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, opposed the application, saying the accused, particularly Mr Jang, has tough credentials as a three-time governor, former Nigerian military general and serving senator, and may therefore intimidate prosecution witnesses if given bail.

He said granting them bail will not be in the best interest of justice.

The trial judge, Daniel Longji, thereafter ruled that the accused persons be remanded at the Jos Prisons till the next sitting of the court on Thursday May 24.

Earlier on Wednesday, the court struck out charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mr Jang.

This was after counsel to ICPC, Adeshina Raheem, told the court that the commission was withdrawing its case to avoid duplication of charges against the former governor.

Mr Jang has been in the custody of the EFCC since Monday last week.