A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has again on Wednesday adjourned the alleged N6.3bn fraud case involving Ex-Governor Jonah Jang and a former cashier, Mr Yusuf Pam to Nov. 4.
Jang and Pam were first arraigned in June 2018, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on a 17-count charge bothering on misappropriation of funds, criminal breach of trust and conferment of corrupt advantages.
The anti-graft agency had said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 315, 309, 19 and 22(5) of the Penal Code Law and Corrupt Practices Act 2004, (as amended).
When the fraud case, before Justice Christy Dabup of High Court IV, came up on Wednesday, it was again adjourned because of the Sallah Public Holiday declared by the Federal Government, which affected one of the days slated for commencement of definite hearing of the matter.
“My Lord, we can’t continue with the hearing of this case today because of the Sallah Public Holiday declared by the Federal Government, which invariably affected our plans to bring our witnesses and proceed with the case,” Mr Oluwatuse Mese, the Prosecution Counsel averred.
Mese argued that EFCC’s plan was to bring some witnesses and take the two days, July 29 and July 30, for them to testify in Court, “but for the holiday, we have to apply for another adjournment.”
“In view of the public holiday that has consumed one of the days, we hereby apply for an adjournment to enable us prepare to prosecute the case proper, ” he pleaded.
Responding, Counsel to Jang, Mr Edward Pwajok (SAN) and Counsel to Pam, Mr Sunday Oyawole, did not object to the application for adjournment.
Justice Dabup, however, adjourned the case to Nov. 4 and Nov 5 for definite hearing.
It would be recalled that the case was on June 24 adjourned to Oct. 29 and Oct 30 after the two accused were arraigned afresh after the case came up in de-novo following the retirement of Justice Daniel Longji on Dec. 29, 2019.
Jang and Pam were first arraigned in June 2018, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on a 17-count charge bothering on misappropriation of funds, criminal breach of trust and conferment of corrupt advantages.
The anti-graft agency had said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 315, 309, 19 and 22(5) of the Penal Code Law and Corrupt Practices Act 2004, (as amended).
When the fraud case, before Justice Christy Dabup of High Court IV, came up on Wednesday, it was again adjourned because of the Sallah Public Holiday declared by the Federal Government, which affected one of the days slated for commencement of definite hearing of the matter.
“My Lord, we can’t continue with the hearing of this case today because of the Sallah Public Holiday declared by the Federal Government, which invariably affected our plans to bring our witnesses and proceed with the case,” Mr Oluwatuse Mese, the Prosecution Counsel averred.
Mese argued that EFCC’s plan was to bring some witnesses and take the two days, July 29 and July 30, for them to testify in Court, “but for the holiday, we have to apply for another adjournment.”
“In view of the public holiday that has consumed one of the days, we hereby apply for an adjournment to enable us prepare to prosecute the case proper, ” he pleaded.
Responding, Counsel to Jang, Mr Edward Pwajok (SAN) and Counsel to Pam, Mr Sunday Oyawole, did not object to the application for adjournment.
Justice Dabup, however, adjourned the case to Nov. 4 and Nov 5 for definite hearing.
It would be recalled that the case was on June 24 adjourned to Oct. 29 and Oct 30 after the two accused were arraigned afresh after the case came up in de-novo following the retirement of Justice Daniel Longji on Dec. 29, 2019.
