Joshua Dariye Explained

Joshua Dariye
Office1:Senator for Plateau Central
Term Start1:6 June 2011
Term End1:9 June 2019
Predecessor1:Satty Davies Gogwim
Successor1:Hezekiah Dimka
Office2:Governor of Plateau State
Term Start2:27 April 2007
Term End2:29 May 2007
Deputy2:Michael Botmang
Predecessor2:Michael Botmang
Successor2:Jonah Jang
Term Start3:18 November 2004
Term End3:13 November 2006
Deputy3:Michael Botmang
Predecessor3:Chris Alli
Successor3:Michael Botmang
Term Start4:29 May 1999
Term End4:18 May 2004
Deputy4:Michael Botmang
Predecessor4:Musa Shehu
Successor4:Chris Alli
Birth Name:Joshua Chibi Dariye
Birth Date:27 July 1957
Birth Place:Bokkos, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Plateau State, Nigeria)
Nationality:Nigerian
Party:All Progressives Congress
Otherparty:
Spouse:Valentina Dariye

Joshua Chibi Dariye (born 27 July 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing the Plateau Central senatorial district from 2011 to 2019. He previously served as the governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2004; 2004 to 2006; and from April to May 2007.[1]

Background

In Horop, Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. Dariye was a businessman before becoming a politician. He was a strong mobilizer for the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the People's Democratic Party Primaries in 1999 as well as Obasanjo's re-election in 2003.[2] At a regional level, he has chaired the Governors' forum of the States in Northern Nigeria.

Political life

As Governor

During his time as governor, he was arrested in London, England on 20 January 2004, with large sums of money.[3] Serving governors have immunity from criminal prosecution and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an anti corruption agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria established to check corrupt practices was waiting for 2007 when his term in office would end to charge him to court for money laundering. He was accused of stealing about $9m of public funds and of money laundering.[3]

Impeachment and removal from office

In early October 2006, eight of the twenty-four state assembly members issued an impeachment notice against Dariye. In his defence, he stated that the notice was invalid as the eight did not form a quorum of the assembly as required by the law. A crowd of Dariye's supporters tried to prevent the assembly members from entering the state assembly building. Riot police then fired into the crowd, killing two protestors.[4]

Dariye was impeached on 13 November 2006. His deputy, Michael Botmang, became the new governor. On 10 March 2007, after a Court of Appeal ordered Dariye reinstated as governor, the Plateau State Government announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.[5]

On 27 April 2007, the Supreme Court refused the of the Plateau State Government and ordered the reinstatement of Dariye with immediate effect.[6]

Following his reinstatement, Dariye's term of office as Governor of Plateau State concluded on 29 May 2007.[7]

Senator

In April 2011, Dariye was elected Senator for Plateau Central Senatorial District on the Labour Party platform. He received 189,140 votes, defeating Dawuda Gowon of the PDP, younger brother of former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, who received 160,106 votes.[8]

On 28 March 2015, he was re-elected as senator representing Plateau central senatorial district after polling 189,150 votes.[9]

Criminal trial

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in 2007, filed 23 counts of money laundering charges involving alleged diversion of about N1.126 billion Plateau State Government's ecological funds, against Dariye.[10]

He pleaded not guilty to the charges following which the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, fixed 13 November 2007 for the commencement of trial.

But before that date, Dariye filed an application, challenging the competence of the charges and the jurisdiction of the court. He argued that he ought to be tried before a Plateau State High Court and not the FCT High Court.

On 13 December 2007, the trial judge heard and dismissed Dariye's application for lacking in merit. Dariye appealed against the ruling of the court. But the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of Justice Banjoko. Dariye subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.[11]

But the apex court, on 27 February 2015 dismissed Dariye's appeal and ordered him to submit himself for trial.

Trial resumes

The Supreme Court's judgment delivered on 27 February 2015, the former Plateau State Governor's trial resumed after about nine years of delay on 26 January 2016. The EFCC called its first prosecution witness, Musa Sunday, who is a detective with the anti-graft agency and who was involved in the investigation of Dariye for the alleged crime. Sunday, during his testimony before Justice Banjoko gave a breakdown of his team's report of investigation revealing how the ecological funds obtained by Dariye, as then governor of Plateau State, was allegedly diverted.[10]

Conviction

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, on Tuesday 12 June 2018 sentenced Dariye to 14 years’ imprisonment on the charges of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds (1.6 billion naira) while he was the Governor of Plateau state. The sentence was then appealed and eventually, the Supreme Court gave a final verdict of a 10 years sentence for the offence committed.[12] [13]

Reduction of jail term

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday 16 November 2018 reduced the 14-year sentence against Dariye to 10 years’. The presiding judge of the court, Justice Stephen Adah, reduced the charges in the counts to 10 years, while the terms with two years are reduced to one year each. The sentences are to run concurrently.[14]

Pardon and release from prison

On 14 April 2022, the federal government of Nigeria granted presidential pardons to Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, both former governors of Plateau and Taraba, respectively. The action was widely criticised by civil society organisations and the general public.[15] [16] [17]

Personal life

Dariye is married to Valentina and together they have four children, namely Nanle, Joy, Ebenezer and Ruth.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Another ex-Nigerian governor convicted of fraud. 12 June 2018. 4 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Abidoye . Bisi . How Obasanjo's failed third term agenda was funded — New Book . Premium Times . 14 September 2018 . 28 January 2019.
  3. BBC Profile: Joshua Dariye
  4. News: Two protesters killed in Nigeria. 11 March 2007. 13 October 2006. BBC News.
  5. News: Dariye: Plateau Govt Appeals Judgement . 11 March 2007 . 11 March 2007 . Nigerian Tribune Online . African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc . 17 March 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070317004733/http://www.tribune.com.ng/10032007/news/news11.html . dead .
  6. News: Nigeria: Supreme Court Reinstates Dariye. 29 May 2007. 28 April 2007. allafrica.com. Vanguard Media Ltd.
  7. News: 29 May 2007 . 18 May 2007 . I'll be around on May 29 - Dariye . . The Sun Publishing Limited . 29 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083205/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/may/18/national-18-05-2007-04.htm . dead .
  8. News: Election Tribunal Upholds Dariye, Lar, Hassan and Saraki Victories. 4 March 2013. Elombah. 27 October 2011.
  9. Web site: Youth protest Jang's Senatorial election victory, hold election officers hostage | Premium Times Nigeria. 30 March 2015.
  10. Web site: The Punch. 26 January 2015. Adesomoju. Ade. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160126032848/http://www.punchng.com/dariye-diverted-n1-126bn-gave-atikus-firm-n100m-witness/. 26 January 2016.
  11. Web site: The Nation. Ikhilae. Eric. 27 February 2015.
  12. Web site: Why Judge jailed ex-governor Joshua Dariye for stealing Plateau funds (DETAILS). 13 June 2018.
  13. Web site: PHOTOS: Dariye weeps as he bags 14-year imprisonment. 13 June 2018.
  14. Web site: Court reduces ex-Gov, Senator Dariye's jail term. 16 November 2018.
  15. Web site: Buhari pardons Dariye, Nyame, two APC chieftains jailed for multibillion-naira loot. 15 April 2022.
  16. Web site: Withdraw pardon for Dariye, Nyame, uphold oath of office, SERAP tells Buhari. 17 April 2022.
  17. Web site: Dariye, Nyame, others released from prison . 8 August 2022 .