The continuation of hearing in the ongoing alleged financial misappropriation suit against former Governor of Plateau State, Sen. Jonah Jang, was hindered Tuesday following the failure of the prosecuting Counsel of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacob, SAN to appear in court.
Earlier during the Tuesday sitting, one of the prosecuting counsel to EFCC told the court that the lead Counsel, Rotimi Jacob, SAN could not attend the sitting due to the cancelation of flight to Jos.
But the lead defending Counsel to Sen. Jang, Edward Pwajok, SAN argued that the statement by the prosecuting counsel was false because the lead counsel had sent a mobile phone message that he won’t be present in court today (Tuesday 13 July 2021).
Pwajok, however, expressed sadness that the suit against his client is being prolonged unnecessarily.
Similarly, the presiding Judge, Justice Christine Dabuk who countered the prosecuting counsel, also said she received a similar text message about 10 hours before the sitting from the lead prosecuting counsel informing her that he won’t be in court for obvious reasons but did not reveal the reason in the text message.
Justice Dabuk said her court has prioritized cases from EFCC and the ICPC for accelerated hearing so that justice won’t be delayed.
Meanwhile, during the proceedings, lead counsel to Jang, Edward Pwajok, SAN told the court that, out of the 12 witnesses brought by his client, only two have so far been cross-examined, ten others are still awaiting cross-examination
Senator Jang, a former Governor of Plateau State was accused by the EFCC of misappropriating state funds few days before he left office as governor of Plateau state in 2015
The case was adjourned to the last week of November 2021, 24, 25, and 26 for the continuation of the hearing.