EFCC Vs. Barr Gideon Ngwen: PRTVC Staff Accuse Management, Govt Officials Of Frustrating Hearing
Yakubu Busari
About 100 staff of the Plateau State Radio, Television Corporation (PRTVC) has raised the alarm that government officials and top management are now working hard to frustrate and delay the wheel of judgment, as some of the staff are now receiving threat and intimidation.
The staffs whose employments were unlawfully terminated by the Plateau State Government, during the administration of former Governor Jonah David Jang who is now challenging their counsel, Barr. Gideon Ngwen, a lawyer, for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation funds, has cried out that the case is now gradually taking another dimension.
However, the case which was adjourned to the 16th December 2021 for ruling on THE preliminary objection, (P.O) raised by Barrister Gideon Ngwen that the High Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, arraigned Barrister Gideon Ngwen before Justice C. L. Dabup of Plateau State High Court, Jos, on a three-count charge.
He was accused of allegedly converting the judgment debt paid into his account on behalf of his clients, which top management of the PRTVC including top government officials in Governor Simon Lalong cabinet is working tirelessly to twist and block the matter for proceedings.
“It would be recalled that the workers, sometimes in 2014 and 2016 instituted a suit at the National Industrial Court, Jos Division in Suit No. NICN/JOS/25/2014 and NICN/JOS/28/2016 against the Plateau State government for unlawful termination of their employment whereupon the defendant took up their case pro bono”.
This was revealed that during the trial, the parties entered into a consent judgement and it was agreed that the sum of N181, 890, 402. 66 (One Hundred and Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Four Hundred and Two Naira and Sixty Six Kobo) be paid to all 100 staff through the account of the defendant domiciled in United Bank for Africa, UBA,.
They further alleged that to their dismay, they discovered that the sum of N107, 000, 000. 00 (One Hundred and Seven Million Naira) which has been paid into the defendant’s United Bank for Africa Bank account, had been converted by him for personal use.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Gideon Ngwen (trading under the name and style of Gideon Ngwen & Co.) between 21st September 2017 and 8th July 2018 at Jos, Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own use the sum of N67, 540, 129. 57 (Sixty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Fifty Seven Kobo) which was entrusted to you by the Plateau State Government as payment of arrears of salaries to David Musa Ayiki and 99 other staff of Plateau State Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC).”
The prosecution counsel, M. O. Tijani when spoke on the phone on the next adjourned date, responded that no date was given, as the matter was slated for ruling on the preliminary objection.
The frustrated PRTVC staff are calling for the intervention of the Plateau State government under the amiable leadership of Governor Simon Lalong to come into the matter, as some of the staff are dead.
