PDP Senator Jonah Jang Denied Bail, Remanded In Prison

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

Mr Jang is currently the senator representing Plateau North district in the National Assembly under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

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

ElombahNews, on Wednesday, reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC] withdrew the charges of fraud proffered against the former governor make way for EFCC prosecution.

Reports had it that he was grilled over alleged fraud while he was in office.

Sources said the former governor was detained, however, one of his aides said he was not being detained.

Jang 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 Clarks, applied for their bail.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, however, opposed the application.

He said the 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.

Jang was the governor of Plateau State from 2007 to 2015 and had previously served as military governor of Benue and defunct Gongola States.

He is presently serving as a senator in the National Assembly representing Plateau North in Plateau State under PDP.