Alleged N6.32b Fraud: How Ex-Governor Jang Withdrew N1.9 Billion In Five Months-EFCC Witness
Yakubu Busari
One of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, witnesses, Mr. Emmanuel Kpanja in the trial of former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang before Justice Christy Dabup on how he defrauded the Plateau state government three months to his tenure expiration period.
He also narrated how he the ex-governor withdrew the sum of N1.9 billion in five months.
Kpanja said as the assistant Manager Zenith Bank, Bukuru branch before being transferred to Keffi Branch in Lafia state told the court how the cashier to OSSG, Mr. Yusuf Gyang Pam was used by the former Governor to indiscriminately siphon the sum of N370 million on the 26th March 2015 and N368 million on the 27th March 2015 few months to the expiration of tenure.
The prosecutor, Barr. O.A.Atolabi while tendering the documents in exhibits before the High Court judge, presented bank statements,, the certificate as P23, P24, P25, and P26 as the transaction by the former cashier Yusuf Pam through the order of the Former Governor Jonah David Jang.
According to the Assistant Manager of Zenith Bank, after joining the bank in 2007 they posted him to Plateau state and his duties then manager in charge of customers’ relationship, the opening of customers’ account.
He explained further that apart from managing the Plateau State government account he also managed Mr. Yusuf Pam’s personal account when Yusuf Pam the then cashier committed the illegal withdrawal and EFCC invited me for more questioning on OSSG on how huge sums were withdrawn.
The former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam has continued withdrawal even as the tenure expired on May 29, 2015.
He also added that between January and May 2015, Mr. Pam withdrew the sum of; N7.5m, N3m, N165m, N25m, N60m, N160m,142m, N974.168m, and N260m, respectively.
The Witness also added that on March 16, 2015, the sum of N550m was also withdrawn by Mr. Pam, in 8 trenches.
“It would be recalled that the funds were for Small and Medium Enterprises, given to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, and that of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) which were allegedly diverted by the defendants and used for personal use “, he alleged.
