Former Governor of Plateau State and serving senator, Joshua Dariye, wept today, after a High Court in Abuja, sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment
Former Governor of Plateau State and serving senator, Joshua Dariye, wept today, after a High Court in Abuja, sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment on charges of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of over N1.16bn belonging to the state.
“Be merciful. You are a Christian, your name is Jacob,” Mr Dariye had told the judge before his sentencing.
However, Justice Adebukola Banjoko convicted and sentenced him on 15 out the 23 counts preferred against him by a High Court of Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gudu, The court said it was satisfied that the defendant, being a public officer that had full dominion and control of ecological funds the Federal Government released to Plateau State in 2001, converted and diverted same for his personal use. It held that the ex-governor criminally misappropriated funds and acted in violent breach of public trust and his oath of office.
Nevertheless, the court discharged and acquitted the ex-governor on 8-counts which it said was not sustained with sufficient evidence. Dariye had before his sentence was announced by trial Justice Adebukola Banjoko, pleaded the court to temper justice with mercy, describing himself as a victim of circumstance. In a plea he made through his lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, Dariye said he was deceived by his bank. Erokoro insisted that his client who he said served his state diligently, became tainted owing to pervasive corruption in the public service.
“This man has suffered. We urge my lord to temper justice with mercy”, Erokoro pleaded, adding that his client was different from that of ex-governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame who was jailed 14years for stealing public funds.
However, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to impose the maximum sanction, accusing Dariye of failing to show any remorse for the crime he committed and to serve as a deterrent to other public office holders.
“My lord should consider the conduct of the defendant who has stalled his trial since June 2007. Is he remorseful about what he has done? He is not! He has not shown any remorse. He still believes that he has not done anything wrong. The prisons are congested with the poor and those that cannot afford their daily meal, but the big men are not there!”
Irked by the submission, Dariye challenged the EFCC’s lawyer, accusing him of deliberately inciting the court to take severe decision against him.
“You are not God! Your name is Jacob, as a Christian you should have mercy! You cannot predict my state of mind. Let’s not spoil tomorrow because of today. Can you raise your hand to swear there is a saint in Nigeria?,” Dariye bellowed from the dock.
In her verdict, Justice Banjoko said she was not persuaded by Dariye’s claim of being a victim. Decrying what she termed as “brazen act of systematic looting” while the defendant held sway as the defendant, noting that Dariye was at a point, richer than his state. While the court sentenced the defendant to 2years imprisonment on each of the counts bordering on misappropriation, he was handed 14 years for the counts involving criminal breach of trust. The court held that the sentence would run concurrently, even as it directed EFCC to return all the funds it recovered in the course of the investigation into the coffers of Plateau State.
