EFCC Press Release
Nearly eight years after he was
first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the
Supreme Court yesterday ordered former Plateau
State governor, Joshua Dariye to
submit himself for trial on corruption and money laundering charges before the
High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The apex court in a unanimous
ruling by a panel of five justices, threw out the former governor's appeal for
lacking in merit. Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, who read the judgment, resolved
the four issues for determination by the court against the appellant.
“So, the appeal has no merit.
It is hereby dismissed. The appellant should go back to the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to stand his trial on the charges levelled
against him”, he ruled.
The EFCC had in 2007 docked Dariye
before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on
a 23 –count charge. He pleaded not guilty, and the trial judge fixed November 13,
2007 for the commencement of trial.
Before the adjourned date,
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
appeal the ruling. Again he lost at the Court of Appeal. He proceeded to the
Supreme Court, which has now directed him to face trial.
This legal rigmarole was not
lost on the panel of justices of the apex court. Two members of the panel,
Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, who read the judgment, and Chima Nweze condemned the antics of the former
governor in trying to frustrate his trial. Justice Ngwuta described the action
of the accused as sad commentary on the nation's fight against corruption,
Wilson
Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
27th February, 2015
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