Plateau, EFCC go after Jang, aide says ex-gov unaware

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun an investigation into allegations of financial malfeasance leveled by Plateau State Government against the administration of a former governor who is now a senator, Jonah Jang.

The petition to the EFCC was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus D. Bature.

But Senator Jang’s legislative aide to, Olivia Dazyam, who is in Port Harcourt with him for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) convention, said that she was surprised because they have not received any petition whether from EFCC or the government of Plateau State “to the extent of probing the former governor.”

While speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Dazyam said she would contact the senator and “necessary and appropriate” actions would be taken.

The Plateau government’s allegations are as follows:
*The sum of N2 billion released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Small and Medium Scale (SME) businesses in Plateau State was embezzled.

*A total sum of N6.1 billion was siphoned from the accounts of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Ministry for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

* A sum of N982, 526451.02 was stolen and paid as consultancy fee to a front company for a purported, non-existent recovery of N7.56 billion from Nasarawa State. The money was fraudulently paid to Darmatist.

* Millions of naira debited monthly from the accounts of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to be used to construct one 5km road in each of the councils. “But most of the roads were never constructed. Just a few LGAs in Jang’s Plateau North Senatorial District benefited from this scheme but the funds had disappeared from the state accounts before the emergence of the new administration of Simon Lalong.”

* Questions are also been raised on how SURE-P funds were disbursed by the Jang administration. “Jang in his handover notes, did not provide the needed information on how much was released, how much was received and what the funds were used for.”

*Also being investigated is the “suspicious double award of the computerization of the Ministry of Finance to a company for the sum of N97,925,000.

“The firm is believed to be a front company, and the contract was awarded twice and the money paid twice to them for same contract.”