FG withdraws money laundering charges against Dariye

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 01.02.2008

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday struck out the charges preferred against the former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye. Dariye was accused of laundering N750 million in a 14-count charge filed against him and was granted bail by the court after he was arraigned.

Justice Babs Kuewunmi struck out the case after it was withdrawn by the EFCC. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) withdrew the charges against the former governor at the proceedings on Thursday.

Counsel for the commission, Adebisi Adeniyi, however, disclosed that the EFCC decided to withdraw the case because Dariye was also facing another criminal charge at an Abuja High Court.

He told Justice Kuewunmi that a similar charge was before a high court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeniyi told the court, “the commission has realised that trying the accused in two courts at the same time is an abused of court process. The case at the FCT High Court is wider in scope than the one at the Federal High Court.”

Counsel for Dariye, Pius Akubo (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal of the case. Some of the charges against Dariye before the court read:

“That you Joshua Chibi Dariye in Abuja did transfer N180 million belonging to the Plateau State Government to buy property in London, an act punishable under section 14 (b) of the money laundering (prohibition) act of 2004.

That you Joshua Chibi Dariye, did transfer N5 million from the All States Trust Bank for the purchase of the landed property.