Governor Lalong Gives Predecessor, Jang Two Weeks To Return Looted Funds

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, August 12th, 2015

By Agabus Pwanagba, Jos – Plateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong, has given the immediate past predecessor, Senator Jonah Jang, his appointees and cronies two weeks to return funds taken illegally from the State treasury to avoid the wrath of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lalong gave the order while receiving the report of the State’s transition committee Tuesday in Jos, the State’s capital.

He alarmed: “We’ve started implementing some of the things, I didn’t want to wait, because we understand that a lot of vehicles were bought but from what we inherited, we didn’t see any government vehicle, even as a Governor, the only vehicle we inherited were two rickety vehicles.

“The first day we attempted to travel to Abuja, they broke around Riyom LGA. But I was made to understand that government bought more than a hundred vehicles and so we saw people running away” with them.

“I want to advise you, if you still have government vehicles, we set up a committee, in your own interest return those vehicles, to avoid embarrassment” added the enraged Governor.

Lalong explained that, government is aware of procedures where vehicles were given to some officials who are entitle to them, so any of such would be given to the person, not running with what belongs to government.

The Governor added that a committee has also been set up for the government house Clinic.

He said, “In line with the advice of President Muhammadu Buhari, who urged past government officials to return stolen public funds in their possession, I’m giving two weeks to government officials in our state to return monies taken illegally, even before government begins the implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

He hinted “because we have received the backing of the EFCC, any moment from now action will start”.

“When President Buhari invited and said, I have seen you have a huge debt, I said yes sir, he asked how much, I told him over N100 billion, he said it may be more than that, but I told him what I received is over N100 billion, then he said just go and look at it and come back. So I was shock to hear that it is now N222.3 billion.

“I think the Executive and the Legislative arm of Government need to sit down and make some serious sacrifice of behalf of the people of Plateau.

“Even before receiving the report, I have heard comments going round, some people say the Governor has bought a house for N700 million, bought plots here and there, I stand here to swear to God that I have not bought any plot or house, I don’t even have the money to buy them”, Lalong declared

“I challenge anybody who has seen any plot in the name of Simon Lalong to call the EFCC.

“My desire is not to acquire wealth. If I had wanted to acquire wealth as a Speaker I would have done so, like colleagues did. As a government, our responsibility is to serve the people of Plateau State”. Lalong stressed.