Judge overrules Jang’s counsel on acceptability of documents tendered
Judge overrules Jang’s counsel on acceptability of documents tendered
Trial judge of the Plateau State High Court, Mr. Justice Daniel Longji, today overruled the objection raised by Senator Jonah Jang’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome on admissibility of documents tendered.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s witness, Kpaja Emmanuel, had tendered the documents on Tuesday, despite not being a signatory to the papers.

The case instituted by EFCC against Jang was on alleged misappropriation of funds when he was governor of the state.

Ozekhome had urged the judge to reject the documents, as no foundation was laid before Emmanuel tendered them in the court.

The defence counsel had argued that his name was not even written on the letter, as the signature was that of somebody else.

In his ruling, Longji said it did not matter who tendered documents in the court, provided they are authentic from the bank.

He went on to say that Emmanuel did not have to be a signatory to the documents because they were self-explanatory.

He added that the author of the documents did not need to read them himself, adding that Ozekhome did not question the authenticity of the documents.

He said that it was not a requirement that a person who issued the certificate officially should tender it.

On the issue of the letter not signed by Emmanuel, he added that it is not the signing that was relevant in the electronically generated documents.

When the hearing continued yesterday, Jacobs led PW3, Emmanuel in evidence-in-chief.

He disclosed that the state government withdrew some millions, and the state accounts were severally credited, adding that none of the accounts bore the name of Jang.

Emmanuel said that the moneys so withdrawn were meant for payments of salaries and political office holders in government, as well as security related issues, especially in the wake of numerous crises that engulfed the state.

He said the office of the Secretary of the Government of the State (OSSG) maintained security account for security-related expenditure.

“The security account had a number of signatories when it was opened, Jang was not one of the signatories. The second accused person, Yusuf Gyang Pam, Jang’s cashier, was also a signatory to the account,” he said.

The judge, having concluded Emmanuel’s case as PW3, adjourned the case till today.


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