There were protests yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital following a failed arraignment of Plateau State former governor, Jonah David Jang, on a 12 count charge bordering on alleged corruption and misappropriation of N6.3bn by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Daily Trust reports that soon after Justice Daniel Longji of the State High Court five fixed Wednesday for proper arraignment and hearing for bail application, youths loyal to Jang, now Senator representing Plateau North, took to the streets to protest what they described as a “witch hunt” by the APC federal government.
The youths carried placards that read: ‘Baba Jang is our hero, he didn’t steal a kobo’ and ‘Jang Forever’ while chanting solidarity songs as they matched from the court premises along CBN road.
However, another group of youths also stormed the streets chanting and carrying placards that read: “Jang return our money” and “where is the N2bn CBN/SME fund you collected?”
Joshua Adeyemi, who led the pro-Jang protest, said “the petition against Jang was submitted to EFCC some years back and nothing was done but now that Jang has said he would contest for the presidency, they have dusted their files, this is simply witch hunt.”
On their part, the pro-EFCC group through Magaji Sule also known as Magajin Dariye said “this is not about ethnicity or religion or politics, this is about our future as youths in Plateau State, so let the law take its cause.”
Nanbon Bitrus said it is only when political office holders are held accountable that any meaningful development can be felt in the state.
The EFCC had filed a motion before Justice Daniel Longji of the Jos High Court to arraign the ex-Governor Jang on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and stealing of N6.3 billion belonging to the state two months before leaving office in May.
But during the sitting, the counsel to the plaintiff, Henri Ajiji urged the court to adjourn the case to Wednesday to enable them properly arraign the accused persons.
He said they were having logistics issue from Abuja to Jos.
However, the counsel to the accused persons, Robert Clarke said it was a pity that the EFCC could not tidy up their case.
“We will be coming back on Wednesday to listen to the charges and take a plea to the charges and then we apply for bail for the accused persons.”
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