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The Supreme Court on Friday has dismissed an interlocutory appeal which stalled the trial of former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, for corruption charges since 2007. Delivering the judgement, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta described the entire case as a “sad commentary” on the nation’s fight against corruption. In a unanimous judgment by the five-man panel, the court ordered the accused to return to the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, to face his trial.
Recall the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had, on July 13, 2007 arraigned the former governor on 23 counts of money laundering and other corruption charges allegedly involving “billions of naira” belonging to the Plateau State Government. The EFCC accused the former governor of among others, diversion of about N1.2bn of the state’s ecological funds into the account of Ebenezer Ratnen Venture, which is one the companies through which he allegedly siphoned the public funds.
Justice Ngwuta held, ” All the four issues determined by the court were resolved 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. This is a sad commentary on our fight against corruption. Appeal dismissed.”
In April 2011, Dariye was elected Senator for Plateau Central senatorial ticket on the platform of Labour Party. He has a return ticket to run on the platform of PDP.
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