Witnesses: How Jang Diverted SUBEB’s N3billion, Sold State’s Property

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Former governor Jonah Jang has been accused of diverting the board’s N3 billion private accounts.

Testifying before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Simon Lalong to probe the administration of Jang, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Plateau Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Michael Gowon said that the former governor diverted the board’s marching grant to other ministries and unknown individuals during his administration between May 2007 and May 2015.

Gowon, during cross-examination, said that N2 Billion was withdrawn from the commission’s account on June 23, 2014, and the amount was deposited into another account, with the name: Plateau State Project Account.

He told the commission that the transfer was made based on a directive from the former governor through a letter from the Accountant General of the state.

Gowon also said that the said account into which the money was transferred was new and unknown to him.

Counsel to Plateau SUBEB, Mr Obende Sunday, said that the bank statements tendered in evidence showed that there were other withdrawals from the board’s account which were deposited into some strange accounts.

Sunday said that the account statements showed that N400 million was transferred from the board’s account to that of the state Ministry of Land and Survey on October 16, 2016.

He also told the commission that N8,500,000 was withdrawn and deposited into an unknown account on September 9, 2014. He also said that N199 million was transferred to an unknown account on Oct. 14, 2014.

The counsel added that the board’s account was debited with N16 million, N109 million and N199 million on the same day and transferred to another strange account.

He stated how other withdrawals were made from the board’s account on other days based on Jang’s directives which were conveyed through letters from the accountant general of the state.

The commission’s Chairman, Justice Stephen Adah, asked the witness to present to the commission, all approvals given to the board to transfer such funds to the said accounts on or before October 19.

Meanwhile, another witness, Mr Dauda Gashi, Director of Commerce of the state’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry indicted Jang of selling seven state-owned petrol filling stations to private individuals during his administration.

He said that the petrol stations, which are located in Langtang, Dengi, Pankshin, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Bassa and Wase, were leased over a period of time and were eventually sold in 2014.

The director, however, did not present documents that gave approval for the sale of the stations before the commission.