More documents presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have been admitted by Justice Daniel Longji of a Plateau State High Court, sitting in Jos, in the ongoing trial of a former governor of the state, Jonah Jang.
Jang is being prosecuted alongside Yusuf Gyang Pam for an alleged N6.2 billion fraud perpetrated during his tenure.
At the last sitting on June 27, 2019 prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, during the examination-in-chief of the tenth prosecution witness, PW10, Gomwalk Kechime, had sought to tender four letters from FCMB, Jos where the witness worked as a Branch Manager.
But counsel for Jang, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, raised objections to their admissibility, relying on Sections 89, 90 and 258 of the Evidence Act.
Jacobs had however, countered his argument, stressing that the documents passed the test of Section 84 of the Evidence Act. He further cited the case of Sylva v. Dickson, Olley v. Tunji, Daudu v. FRN amongst in support of his argument.
At the resumed sitting on July 10, 2019, Justice Longji, while delivering ruling, held that “the statements of account pass the admissibility test under Section 84 of the Evidence Act”, and so admitted them, accordingly.
The trial judge, however, ruled that the letters of loan sought to be tendered by the prosecution were photocopies, noting that only the originals can be admitted by the court.
Consequently, the Court admitted the account opening package and statement of account, while leaving out the loan facility letters.
Longji, thereafter, adjourned the case to July 23 and 24, 2019 for continuation of trial.