ICPC to declare Jonah Jang wanted over N5.6bn fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) may declare the former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah David Jang wanted for failing to report to the Commission to answer questions on allegations of embezzling N5.6 billion belonging to Plateau State, Daily Trust gathered.

Spokesperson of the ICPC, Rasheedat Okonduwa, who dropped the hint yesterday, said the Commission had been on the trail of the former governor now a senator, since October 2017, when it opened investigation into alleged corruption-related activities during his tenure.

She said evidence before the Commission so far indicates that Senator Jang allegedly committed the offences in March 2015.

“He allegedly received N2 billion in cash illegally out of the money which was allocated to micro, small and medium enterprises, under the pretext of a loan to be spent on classified expenditure”, Okonduwa said adding that: “Jang again allegedly received N400 million illegally of funds meant for Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).”

According to the ICPC spokesperson, Jang also allegedly caused a former commissioner of finance in the state to illegally transfer the sum of N3.2 billion of SUBEB funds to the project account of the ministry of finance.

She said several invitations had been sent to Jang by ICPC through both the Senate President and the Clerk of the National Assembly to come and clear his name but he has refused to honour them.

“Also, efforts to procure an arrest warrant from two different magistrate’s courts in the Federal Capital Territory have been futile as the Magistrates declined to sign them even after the sworn requisite affidavit had been presented by the Commission”, she said, stressing that “in the light of the foregoing, the Commission may have no other option than to declare the former governor wanted.” ,