According to Honourable Nandant Bako, they won the Case both before the Federal High Court and
the Supreme Court, where the Defendant was returned as the Governor of Plateau State, successfully
completing his tenure.
Under Cross-Examination, he agreed with the Prosecution that he and other Members were given
Car Loans in the Sum of N4Million, paid into their Bank Accounts and Deductions were expected to be
taken from their Salaries back into the Coffers of the Government, and therefore he would be
surprised to learn that some others received theirs in Cash and never paid back. He was never
prosecuted by the EFCC in Court because he received and paid the Car Loan through the Proper
Procedure.
He reiterated the fact that the Committee Report on the Impeachment was deliberated upon by the
House of Assembly, who had the power to either refuse or accept the Report, and in this Case, a
Resolution was passed accepting the Report.
He clarified the position that the Committee on Impeachment did not Sit either as a Court or give
Judgment, and insisted on this point despite being shown Paragraph 6.4 of Exhibit D7. Further, he
was shown Pages 109 to 112 of Exhibit D7, the Committee Report, which contained the
reproduction of the Charge Sheet and when asked, he restated that the Committee did not interfere
with Matters already instituted in Court, but however could not say with certainty whether at that
time, the Defendant was under Immunity.
He agreed that the Committee could not absolve anyone of any Crime or have the Jurisdiction to
entertain a Criminal Matter. However, the Committee simply acted on a Petition sent to the House, to
which they were asked to investigate. This Committee subsequently determined that No Offence was
committed. According to Honourable Nandant Bako, he did not have a Copy of the Kaduna Federal
High Court Judgment that cleared the Defendant nor knew whether the Allegation against the
Defendant was Civil or Criminal in Nature. The Singular Role he played, was concerning the
Impeachment of the Defendant as Governor.
Honourable Nandant Bako testified that it was from the EFCC Report he became aware that the
Defendant collected a Cheque from the Ecological Funds Office on behalf of Plateau State Government
and depending on the circumstances, it would be wrong for the Defendant to use his own discretion to
disburse Monies to the PDP South West and PDP North East. However, if he was acting under the
directive of the Giver/Issuer of the Cheque, that is, the Federal Government of Nigeria, there was
nothing wrong with it.
He got to know of the Defendant’s Arrest in London from the Petition and was aware the Defendant
had jumped bail in London, which was never reported and neither did anyone from London give such
evidence before the Committee.
He was asked whether it was the EFCC that nailed the Defendant in London, and he replied that he did
not know whether it was the EFCC that arrested the Defendant in London or declared him Wanted
and would be surprised to know that the Defendant had transferred some Money to London to buy a
House.
According to Honourable Nandant Bako, he would not pay State Funds into his Personal Bank Account
and where it occurs, he would write a Memo. Further, depending on the circumstances, State Funds
could be paid into the Governor’s Account and in this instance, he would not be surprised to know the
Defendant paid State Funds into his Personal Bank Account.
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