The Investigative Committee put in place by governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong to investigate illegal possession of government vehicles by the previous administration yesterday, said that former Governor Jonah Jang and his wife, Talatu, illegally went away with 15 vehicles from the Government House.
The committee which was headed by former Secretary to the Plateau State Government (SSG), Ezekiel Gomos while submitting its report to the state SSG Rufus Bature, yesterday said all efforts to recover the vehicles from Jang had failed and suggested that legal action be taken to retrieve the vehicles.
Gomos said though the former governor and his wife were entitled to nine vehicles as approved by exco decision, Government House records revealed that they had reclaimed 24 vehicles adding that the 15 extra contravenes a policy put in place by the former governor and he has refused to return them when requested to do so.”
The chairman said: “An atmosphere was created to give the impression that government vehicles were automatic part of the entitlements of anyone working with the governor, upon exit of office.
“This is encouraging all manners of persons including personal aides and domestic helps to go away with such vehicles. This was accentuated by the rash of approvals given by the former governor to such aides immediately it was clear that a new administration was coming into office.”
Gomos further explained that the committee found that vehicles boarded based on state council approval were 191 while vehicles boarded based on the former governor’s executive fiat was 32 and vehicles taken away illegally without approval or exco cover were 24.
When contacted the media aide to ex-Governor Jang, Chris Gyang stated in a text message sent to our correspondent that “I’m consulting with the senator and his wife who are currently out of the country, over the allegations and will respond appropriately in due course.”