How Jang ‘diverted’ N2bn MSMEs fund – Witnesses

A witness, Mr Uchenna Igwe, who was a Senior Manager, Zenith Bank, Branch Head, Jos in 2015, has told the Plateau state High Court sitting in Jos how the administration of former Plateau Governor, Senator David Jang allegedly diverted the sum of N2 billion disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSMEs) beneficiaries in Plateau state.

Another witness, Mr Olayitan Abdullahi, a Director of Monitoring, Planning and Operations, Department of MSMEs at CBN on Tuesday also told the court that to his department’s knowledge (which was saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the disbursement of MSME funds to the beneficiaries in the country), the N2 billion wasn’t disbursed to the end users in the state.

It will recalled that Senator Jang alongside a former Cashier in the Office of the Secretary of State Government, Yusuf Pam were standing trial before Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on a 12-count charge of abuse of office and misappropriation of N6.3 billion before leaving office in 2015.

In his oral evidence, Mr. Igwe who is now a Senior Manager of Zenith Bank, in Wuse, Abuja said that on 17th March, 2015 there was an inflow of N2 billion from CBN into Plateau state Project account, “I then notified Commissioner of Finance and Accountant General of the state, then an instruction was given by the accountant general to transfer the money to Plateau State, Small and Medium Development Agency (PLASMEDA)’s account.”

“On 20th March, 2015 our bank credited the N2 billion to PLASMEDA account; we were also given instructions by the accountant general to transfer the money back to Plateau state Project Account,” he said.

Mr. Igwe added that diversion of the money to other accounts including that of Office of Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Plateau state House of Assembly and Government House Administration started from 25th March, 2015 and it reaches a climax when a sum of N1.150 billion was transferred to OSSG account on 7th April, 2018.

However, after a debate by the Counsel of Plaintiffs (EFCC), Rotimi Jacob, and that of the Defendants, Robert Clarke, the presiding judge, Daniel Longji adjourned the case to tomorrow for definite hearing.