Chief Michael Botmang (1938 – 18 January 2014) was a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

politician. On 9 September 2001, there were riots in

Jos Jos is a city in the north central region of Nigeria. The city has a population of about 900,000 residents based on the 2006 census. Popularly called "J-Town", it is the administrative capital and largest city of Plateau State. During British ...

between Christians and Muslims. As acting governor, Chief Michael Botmang drafted both the police and the army to help return the state capital to order. Botmang, then a former Plateau state deputy governor, was sworn in as

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Plateau State Plateau State is the twelfth-largest Nigerian state. It is in the centre of the country includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau, its capital, and the entire plateau itself. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and To ...

following the impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye on 13 November 2006. He held that position until 27 April 2007, when the

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

ordered the reinstatement of Dariye with immediate effect. Da. Michael Botmang made history on 13 November 2006 as the very first Governor of Plateau State of Berom origin. In July 2008 the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud (419 fraud) and money laundering. The EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to pre ...

arraigned Botmang on a 31-count charge of fraud, alleging he had pocketed N1.5 billion during his tenure as Plateau State governor. He was released on bail a month later and his travel documents were returned so he could travel to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

for medical treatment. The fraud charges were later dropped by the EFCC on 12 June 2013 stating that there is evidence that the money borrowed from Intercontinental Bank when Botmang was governor was used to pay workers’ salaries and other government activities. Botmang died on 18 January 2014, of kidney disease. He was 76.

References

1938 births 2014 deaths Governors of Plateau State People from Jos Deaths from kidney disease {{Nigeria-politician-stub