N7.4b Fraud: Dariye’s Trial Stalled

Posted by admin National Politics, Plateau, State News Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

An Abuja High Court could not continue with the trial of the former governor of Plateau State, Mr. Joshua Dariye, yesterday as counsel to the accused, Mr. Chris Umar informed the court that an appeal had been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Appeal Court returning Dariye to the trial court.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Umar brought an application for stay of proceeding pending the appeal at the apex court.

Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the accused filed the application four days ago but did not serve him until the previous day adding that no brief was served along side with the application.

Mr. Dariye is facing trial over a 23- count charge bordering on stealing, and misappropriation of public funds totalling over N7.4 billion preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) while he was governor of Plateau State.

At the last adjourned date, the trial judge, Justice Adebunkola Banjoko, had submitted that Dariye had already lost at the appeal court where he filed a suit challenging the jurisdiction of the FCT high court, and so the coast was now clear to proceed with the trial.

However, counsel to the accused, Mr. Chris Umar, told the court that Dariye had filed another application at the Supreme Court challenging the ruling of the appeal court.

But the EFCC counsel told the court that the anti-graft agency had not been served, and prayed the court to proceed with the trial in line with the ruling of the appeal court which had asked the accused person to return to the lower court to face trial. He pointed out that the EFCC had already prepared its witnesses who were ready to testify.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Adebunkola Banjoko adjourned the matter till May 4, 2011 for hearing.

-Punchwp_posts