University of Jos |
Witnesses in the trial of Kassam Kopte and Yakubu Zwalnan,
former Chairman and Secretary, University of Jos’ Non Academic
Staff Union of Education and Associated Institution, on Wednesday, March
6, 2024 narrated before Justice S.P Gang of the Plateau State High Court
sitting in Jos, how the duo allegedly lured union members into fraudulent land
deals and defrauded them of their life savings in the process.
Kopte and Zwalnan are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on three-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to defraud union members to the tune of N178,583,560.36 (One Hundred and Seventy-eight Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-three Thousand, Five Hundred Sixty Naira, Thirty-six Kobo). The alleged offence contravenes Section 97 of the Penal Code Laws of Plateau State, and punishable under the same Law.”
At Wednesday’s court session, Second Prosecution Witness ,
PW2, Dabup Luka Jacob, a lecturer in the University of Jos, who was led in
evidence by prosecution counsel, Steve Odiase, told the court that he
lost N448,200 (Four Hundred and
Forty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) to the two
defendants, being the total cost of two plots of land he chose to buy.
"My Lord, in 2012, they advertised plots of land to the
university community, I subscribed for four plots of land. Two were shown to
me, while the remaining two I have no idea about. And the two I was shown have
no title documents for me to claim them as mine. No evidence to call them mine.
I paid for the two plots through direct lodgments into the NASU plots of land
account they gave us, while the remaining two are to be deducted from my
salary. I have a photocopy of the evidence of payments because the originals
are with the union.”
In his own testimony, Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, James
Wazhi Jangfa, narrated that he lost a total of N896,400 (Eight Hundred and
Ninety-Six Thousand, Four Hundred Naira) to the two defendants, being the total
cost of five plots of land he was deceived into buying by the duo.
"My Lord, I subscribed for five plots of land. I paid
for three while the other two were to be deducted from my salary. Three
plots of lands were shown to me and I accepted, while I was shown another two
in a valley which I rejected . Of the total lands, my Lord, none has a document
to back it up even after we paid for land title fees and other formalities. So
technically, my Lord, I can't claim any of the land because it has no
paper document to back them up,"he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the first Prosecution
Witness, PW1,Bitrus Ayuba, had told the court that he lost N448,000.00 (Four
Hundred and Forty-eight Thousand Naira) to the two defendants in the fraudulent
land purchase.
"As at that time my Lord, in one of our meetings, they
advertised plots of land to us, stating that all interested persons should
indicate his or her interest and that he or she would get it. We asked them the
price of a plot of land and they told us it was N170,000 (One Hundred and
Seventy Thousand Naira). I then showed interest and paid the sum of N340,000
(Three Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira) for two plots of land. After a while,
they told us again to pay the sum of N54,000 (Fifty-four Thousand Naira) for
land title documents and I paid for the two plots I paid for earlier," he
stated.
All the evidence of payments made by the witnesses were
admitted exhibits in court by Justice Gang after scaling stiff objections from
D.G Dashe and I.P Gyang, counsels to the first and second defendants,
respectively.
The judge adjourned the matter till May 14 and 15 2024 for continuation of trial.
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