The trial of a former Governor of
Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, for alleged corruption charges will resume at the
High Court of Federal Capital Territory on March 24, following dismissal of his
appeal by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission had on July 13, 2007, arraigned Mr. Dariye on a 23-count charge of
money laundering and other corruption charges involving billions of Naira
belonging to the Plateau State Government, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of
a FCT High Court in Gudu, Abuja.
Amongst others, the EFCC accused the
former governor of diversion of about N1.2 billion of the state’s ecological
funds into the account of Ebenezer Ratnen Venture, which is one the companies
through which he allegedly siphoned the public funds.
However, before commencement of his
trial on November 13 after he had pleaded not guilty on July 13, Mr. Dariye
challenged the jurisdiction and competence of the court. His application was
dismissed on December 13, 2007 as lacking in merit but the former governor
appealed the ruling.
Again he lost at the Court of
Appeal. He proceeded to the Supreme Court, which dismissed his appeal as
lacking merit and directed him to face trial.
While condemning the antics of the
accused in trying to frustrate his trial, Justice Sylvester, who read the
judgement, described the action of Mr. Dariye as a sad commentary on the
nation’s fight against corruption.
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