News

Pardon: Dariye May Recover Mansion Worth N500m From EFCC

Published

3 years ago

Apr 24, 2022.

Praise Ben

Dariye may recover mansion worth over N500m from EFCC after pardoning by Buhari
Dariye was convicted for stealing N1.16 billion while he was Governor between 1999 and 2007

EDITOR’S PICK

EKO HOT BLOG reports that former governor of Plateau State; Joshua Dariye, may reclaim his N500 million residence in Asokoro, Federal Capital Territory, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after his pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Dariye, who was convicted of stealing N1.16 billion while governor between 1999 and 2007, was pardoned by Buhari on April 14, 2022, based on the National Council of State’s proposal.

The former governor’s conviction by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2018 was affirmed by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

On the strength of the affirmation of the conviction by the Supreme Court, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the final forfeiture of the property based on the argument that it was purchased with proceeds of crime.

“It will now depend on the Attorney-General of the Federation to determine how to enforce the pardon along with the instruments of the pardon.”

The EFCC had told Justice Inyang Ekwo in February that since the trial had been concluded and Dariye had been jailed for criminal breach of trust and dishonest conversion of over N1bn belonging to Plateau State, it was proper that the court order the final forfeiture of the convict’s known assets.

The application read in part, “The applicant (the EFCC) sought and obtained an interim forfeiture order of the respondent’s (Dariye’s) assets and properties, inclusive of the property at P No 1802 AO4, No. 19, Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, pending the determination of the charge against the respondent.

“The charge against the respondent (now convicted): FCT/CR/81/2007 between Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, was determined resulting in the respondent’s conviction.

“Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the respondent. The apex court affirmed the conviction of the respondent on the charge of criminal breach of trust punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code and also that the N1,161,162,300.00 belonging to the Plateau State Government had clearly been dishonestly converted by the respondent to his own use by the intricate dishonest contrivance.”

FURTHER READING

The commission noted that with the decision of the Supreme Court in Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye vs. FRN, appeal No: SC/1206C/2018, it was affirmed that Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered company, was involved and used to commit the crime for which Dariye was convicted.

It said by the decision of the Supreme Court, it was affirmed that there was credible evidence that Dariye was masquerading in the name of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered company, to cause wrongful gain to himself.

Click to watch our video of the week