Disputed N2b MSME fund not paid to Jang’s account, says EFCC witness
• Agency arraigns seven over alleged N148.3m fraud Junaid Mohammed seeks support for Donald Duke • Mimiko pledges to rescue Nigeria from incompetent leaders, corruption
AJos High Court was yesterday told that N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), was not paid into the personal account of former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang.
A witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Uchenna Igwe, disclosed this yesterday, in a presided over by Justice Daniel Longji. The suit against the ex-governor of and his accountant, Yusuf Gyang Pam, commenced yesterday as EFCC called two witnesses.
The EFCC accused them of diverting the fund, which was meant to cushion the hardship of the citizenry under the Plateau State Small and Medium Development Enterprises (PLASMEDA).
APC chief, Yusuf, alleges threat to life
ACHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Kazeem Olanrewaju Yusuf, has raised the alarm over threats to his life.
He also recounted his ordeal at the hands of political rivals, who assaulted him recently.
He told in Lagos that he returned from Ilorin, Kwara State on October 3, 2018 in preparation for the primary election campaign and meeting with his mentor and associate, Senator Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi.
“When I got home, four strange looking men who acted like the usual political supporters of our party, suddenly took charge of the house. My maid was molested and I was beaten up seriously.
“While they were hitting the butt of the gun on my head, one was saying, shoot him and let him die, so he won’t have time for politics again. Toyin, my maid was shouting for help and by God’s mercy, I was spared.
“My brother-in-law, Olatunde, took me to hospital from where I was discharged on October 11 with my maid and she had left for her village for fear of another attack,” he narrated.
He, however, added that he could say precisely where the attack came from, saying his affiliation to Lagos and Kwara APC could be the cause.
“Because of the fear of the unknown, I don’t usually stay at home,” he added.
Igwe, a Senior Manager with Zenith Bank, who headed the branch when the money was allegedly paid, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) meant that the money be paid into Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (PLASMEDA), but it was paid into Plateau Project account.
While being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), Igwe said: “When I noticed it, I immediately notified the state commissioner of finance and accountantgeneral. The accountantgeneral raised an instruction to move it into PLASMEDA account, and I complied on March 20, 2015.
“Another instruction came from the same accountantgeneral to the effect that the money be moved back to Plateau Project account on March 24, 2015, and that was
AHEAD of the 2019 polls, notable politician, Dr. Junaid Mohammed has urged Nigerians to support the Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Donald Duke.
Mohammed, who spoke with urged Nigerians to be wary of the way they hand over the second term to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also cautioned against supporting the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples democratic party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Mohammed, who is the vice presidential candidate to Duke, justified his position by arguing that both Buhari and Atiku lacks the wherewithal to administer the country. done.”
He disclosed that thereafter, the money was disbursed in tranches into various accounts, including State’s Central Salary Account, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Government House Administrative Account, and Plateau State House of Assembly Account.
Igwe added that before the N2 billion was paid into the Plateau Project Account, the balance in the account was N839, 398,474.39, adding that with the N2 billion, the account balance was raised to N2, 839,398,474.39.
Another EFCC witness, Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan, Director, Development Finance Department with the CBN, represented by the EFCC Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) also testified.
Olaitan explained that the CBN had to write to the state
“I will not choose Buhari because he is incompetent and full of nepotism, even as those around him are so corrupt. Buhari cannot even maintain discipline in his own house. Why should I elect him?”
He explained that when a nation is faced with its most challenging circumstances, he doesn’t see why we should pick the least competent, least educated person and ask him to continue.
The SDP presidential running mate said: “Atiku is a lesser evil, but he has had this terrible reputation of being corrupt and morally bankrupt. And he is the kind of person who is desperate for power, which is very dangerous.”
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko yesterday pledged to rescue Nigeria from incompetent leaders government when its monitoring team observed that the N2billion was not disbursed to the end users.
Justice Longji adjourned the case till today for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile the EFCC yesterday arraigned six men and a company over alleged N148. 302 million fraud, before Justice Justice Babs Kuewumi of a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Those arraigned were Alimi Haruna, Momouda Mohammed, Shittu Muideen, Akpojaro Amos, Joga Yusuf, Duru Patrick, and Ashmina Oil and Gas Limited.
The suspects were charged for alleged conspiracy, money laundering, unlawfully retaining proceed of illicit act, obtaining huge amount of money without going through financial institution and obtaining under false pretence. and corruption.
Mimiko, who made the promise at a town hall meeting in Ibadan, tagged “Conversation with Mimiko,” said the nation’s socio-political and economic status have continued to wobble due to the lack of leadership with vision.
Mimiko, a former governor of Ondo State, said Buhari was not fighting corruption properly, adding that he would employ better tools to make the fight effective.
Dignitaries in attendance were the ZLP gubernatorial candidate in Oyo, Segun Odegbami, the party’s state Chairman, Wole Abisoye, Prof. Dupe Olatubosun.
Others were Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, Mr. Bimbo Adepoju, and Dr. Olapade Agoro of the National Action Council.