Breaking News: Plateau Governor, Lalong Set Up A Judicial Commission Of Inquiry To Probe Ex-Governor Jang’s Eight Year Administration

Yakubu Busari

Former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang may soon be called to answer questions on how he handled the affairs of Plateau State when he was governor from May 29^th 2007 to May 29^th 2015, especially in terms of finance, properties of the State and others, this is because Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has sets up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the eight year administration of his predecessor.

In a statement signed by Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, Director, Press and Public Affairs he said; “The Executive Governor of Plateau State, the Rt. Hon. (Barr) Simon Bako Lalong, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law Cap 25 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, (as applicable to Plateau State) and other relevant laws enabling him in that behalf, has established and constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry made up of the following:

(a)    Justice Stephen Adah JCA – Chairman

(b)    Prof. Mrs. Bibiana Bawa  – Member

(c)     Barr. Aliyu Sangei  – Member

(d)     Prof. Ekoja   B. Ekoja  – Member

(e)     Engr. Samuel Onu Agamah – Member

(f)     Alhaji Sani Yahaya Mavo – Secretary

The statement also stated that, the Terms of Reference given to the Commission are:

(1)   To ascertain all financial transactions, done or entered into by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria or through any of its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), or official acting in its name from the 29thday of May 2007 to 29thMay 2015.

(2)  To ascertain and establish all financial allocations, funds, grants or monetary interventions and revenues which accrued to or in the name of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria. Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Officials or Agents from the Federal Government of Nigeria or any International Institutions or Donor Agencies from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015.

(3)  To ascertain and establish all loans granted to or obtained by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and the purpose for which such loans were obtained and whether the loans were used for such purpose.

(4)  To ascertain whether any property belonging to the Government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals and Institutions which were sold or in any way concessioned to any person(s), or institution(s), by any Government Ministry, Department, Agency (MDAs), or officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, followed due process or procedure and whether the proceeds of such sale or concession were paid into appropriate Government coffers.

(5)   To ascertain whether any property or properties purchased or acquired for or in the name of the Government of Plateau State were purchased in line with due process and procedure.

(6)   To ascertain all contracts awarded by the Government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals or Officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, the process or procedure followed in the award of such contracts, the value of each contract (including any variations and whether such variations were necessary and done in good faith), the level of execution or completion of each of them and the amount paid to the contractor as at 29th May 2015.

(7)    To ascertain the total amount paid by the Government of Plateau State as salaries and allowances of serving and retired State Civil Servants, Local Government Employees and Political Appointees from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015; And to further establish whether any person or employee of Government received multiple payments of salaries or pensions, and the role played by any person(s) toward such payments.

“The Commission of Inquiry will be inaugurated on Wednesday 17th August 2016 at Government House Banquet Hall, Little Rayfield, Jos by 10.30am. Consequently, the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Honourable Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly; the Chief Judge of Plateau State and the Grand Khadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State; Superior Court Judges; Chief Executives of Boards and Parastatals; Chairman Plateau State Traditional Council of Chiefs and Members of the Council; Permanent Secretaries, Management Committee Chairmen of 17 LGCs; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Plateau State Party Stalwarts, Elders, Religious Leaders and Members of the general public are invited.

They are to be seated by 9:30 am please,” the statement said.