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Joshua 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[edit]

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[edit]

As Governor[edit]

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[edit]

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 ^{[clarification needed]} 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[edit]

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][9]

On 28 March 2015, he was re-elected as senator representing Plateau central senatorial district after polling 189,150 votes.^[10]

Criminal trial[edit]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

But the apex court, on 27 February 2015 dismissed Dariye's appeal and ordered him to submit himself for trial.^[12]

Trial resumes[edit]

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.^[11] 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.^[11]

Conviction[edit]

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.^[13][14]

Reduction of jail term[edit]

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.^[15]

Pardon and release from prison[edit]

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.^[16][17][18]

Personal life[edit]

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

See also[edit]

• List of governors of Plateau State

References[edit]