N1.16B Fraud: Court Jails Dariye 14 Years, Judge Says Ex-governor Richer than his State

Segun Atanda/

Former Governor of Plateau State, Sen. Joshua Dariye was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment today after he was found guilty of N1.16 billion fraud.

After a trial that lasted about eight hours at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Justice Adebukola Banjoko noted that Dariye, a serving senator, was in fact richer than his state.

She said, “There should be no compromise to corruption by whatever shade or colour, rich or poor.”

Justice Banjoko was the same judge that imposed 14 years’ jail term on ex-Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, on similar charges.

She sentenced ‎Dariye to two years imprisonment on each of the five counts bordering on criminal misappropriation and 14 years’ jail term on each of the 11 counts of criminal breach of trust.

The sentences would, however, run concurrently, implying that the ex-governor would spend 14 years in jail.

The judge convicted the ex-governor on charges of criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation punishable under sections 315 and 309 of the Penal Code Act, respectively.

The judge however threw out eight of the 23 charges on the grounds of either duplicity or lack of sufficient evidence.

Defense lawyer, Paul Erokor (SAN), made a plea for mercy on behalf of his client, but counsel to the ‎Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the defense lawyer’s plea for mercy and asked the Court to impose the maximum sentence.

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