Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has set up a six member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe his predecessor, David Jang, especially on all the financial transactions done or entered into, contracts awarded, among others from 29th May, 2007 to 29th May, 2015.
The Commission is headed by Justice Stephen Adah JCA, while Alhaji Sani Yahaya Mavo is to serve as Secretary. Other members of the Commission are Professor Mrs. Bibiana Bawa, Barrister Aliyu Sangei, Professor Ekoja B. Ekoja and Engineer Samuel Onu Agamah.
A statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Lalong, Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, reads: “The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law Cap 25 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, (as applicable to Plateau State) and other relevant laws enabling him in that behalf, has established and constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”
The terms of reference given to the Commission includes, “To ascertain all financial transactions, done or entered into by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria or through any of its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), or official acting in its name from the 29thday of May 2007 to 29thMay 2015.
“To ascertain and establish all financial allocations, funds, grants or monetary interventions and revenues which accrued to or in the name of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria. Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Officials or Agents from the Federal Government of Nigeria or any International Institutions or Donor Agencies from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015.
“To ascertain and establish all loans granted to or obtained by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and the purpose for which such loans were obtained and whether the loans were used for such purpose.
“To ascertain whether any property belonging to the Government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals and Institutions which were sold or in any way concessioned to any person(s), or institution(s), by any Government Ministry, Department, Agency (MDAs), or officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, followed due process or procedure and whether the proceeds of such sale or concession were paid into appropriate Government coffers.
“To ascertain whether any property or properties purchased or acquired for or in the name of the Government of Plateau State were purchased in line with due process and procedure.
“To ascertain all contracts awarded by the Government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals or Officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, the process or procedure followed in the award of such contracts, the value of each contract (including any variations and whether such variations were necessary and done in good faith), the level of execution or completion of each of them and the amount paid to the contractor as at 29th May 2015.
“To ascertain the total amount paid by the Government of Plateau State as salaries and allowances of serving and retired State Civil Servants, Local Government Employees and Political Appointees from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015; And to further establish whether any person or employee of Government received multiple payments of salaries or pensions, and the role played by any person(s) toward such payments.”
The Commission will be inaugurated on Wednesday August 17. [myad]
