Plateau Govt Probes Dariye...Over N160 Billion Generated From 1999 - 2007

Isaac Shobayo, Jos - 17.05.2008

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has reneged on his promise not to probe his predecessor, former Governor Joshua Dariye, and set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe how the past government expended the over N160 billion it generated as revenue from 1999 to 2007.

Governor Jonah Jang at different fora at the inception of his administration had promised not to waste his time probing the past administration in the state on the premise that the work at hand was enormous and needed full concentration.

The resolution to set up the commission of inquiry to look into the activities of the State Board of Internal Generated Revenue Service was reached at the Executive Council Meeting held at the EXCO Chamber of Government House, Ray Field.

Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of the state, Barrister Edward Pwarjok, told newsmen the exercise was aimed at sanitising the system rather than witch-hunting anybody.

The commissioner described as disturbing the situation in the past where public funds were shared into private accounts, saying that everything humanly possible would be done to recover such fund.

He said the Commission of Inquiry would unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of public funds, make recoveries, as well as indict persons found to be involved as the case may be.

Pwarjok added that the past government also collected loans through the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) from banks which were not used for the purposes meant.