N50bn Scam: We Are Not Probing Gov. Jang - House of Assembly

The Plateau House of Assembly says it is not probing Governor Jonah Jang over an alleged N50 billion scam as being peddled in some quarters. Its Majority Leader, Mr Dem Daniels (PDP- Riyom), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Friday. He said that the mere receipt of a petition against the governor over an alleged misconduct cannot be described as probe. Daniels said that the petition, which was filed by the Plateau Patriotic Front (PPF), alleged gross misconduct against the governor. He said that the assembly was only acting in accordance with its constitutional duties by receiving the petition which, he explained, had been committed to the Account and Petitions Committees for proper investigation. The majority leader said that the petition sought explanation on how an alleged N50 billion SURE- P funds meant for the state was utilised since 2012. Daniels said that the petition also alleged that N30 billion of the money was meant for the state government while N20 billion was meant for the local government councils in the state. He said that the petition also accused the assembly of complicity for its alleged failure to investigate the disbursement of the funds. Daniels, however, said that the state government, through a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Mr Izam Azi, directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to obtain clear from the governor's office before appearing before the assembly on the matter. ``I am aware of the directive, it is the normal thing, it did not amount to being at loggerheads with the executive,'' he said. Meanwhile, Mr Yakubu Jang, a son to the state governor, had filed a suit at the State High Court, seeking an order restraining the assembly from investigating the allegations contained in the petition. NAN learnt that although the court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit, Gov. Jang had debunked the allegation at one of his public functions. `if I see such an amount, the state will not remain this way, and they said that I embezzled N50 billion,’’ Jang had said in response to the petition.