Former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye
A retired detective with the Metropolitan Police in London, Mr.
Peter Clerk, on Monday, has revealed how a former Governor of Plateau
State, Mr. Joshua Dariye, lived extravagant and lavish lifestyle after
stealing from his people.
The detective narrated before a High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory in Gudu, Abuja, details leading to the arrest of the
ex-governor in September 2004.
Clerk was testifying before Justice Adebukola Banjoko as the ninth
prosecution witness in the trial of the former governor on charges of
alleged diversion of about N1.162bn Ecological Fund meant for Plateau
State in 2004.
Clerk revealed a shocking detail how the ex-governor enjoyed lavish
and extravagant lifestyle at the detriment of his people. He narrated
how the ex-governor purchased a pen for £7,000 (N2m) in London, before
the former governor was arrested.
He said, “From the examination of Mr. Dariye’s account, he
travelled all over the world. From his passport, we saw stamps of
several countries.
“We found seven pairs of shoes which cost £700 per pair. He
paid £7,000 for a pen. He purchased a lot of things in high luxurious
stores.”
Led in evidence by the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs
(SAN), Clerk made more shocking revelations about the ex-governor who is
now the Senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly.
He said, “On September 28, 2004, we were informed that Joshua
Dariye was in London in a hotel. I went there with two other officers
who also identified themselves as police officers.
“I informed him (Dariye) that we were investigating his
accounts and we arrested and informed him under caution that we believed
that the money was stolen and proceeds of money laundering. He said
nothing.”
He stated that on September 28, 2004, when Dariye was arrested, £43,000 was found in the former governor’s hotel room.
He said on the same day, £50,000, out of which £40,000 belonged to
Dariye, was found with a lady, Christabel Bentu, who was said to have
claimed to be a Personal Assistant to the former governor, in another
room in the same hotel.
Clerk added, “In September 2004, £43,000 in cash was found in
Dariye’s room when it was searched. There were various denominations and
currencies including Scottish notes, dollars, euros.
“The cash seized was packed into a container, for which he
signed. It was photographed. I have copies of the photograph. Dariye and
Christopher Bentu were taken to the police.”
He said his colleague searched a property belonging to Dariye and found £11,995.
Clerk stated that Dariye was later released on bail and was expected to return to London in December 2004, but never did.
The witness said a valid arrest warrant was, till date, still pending against the former governor after jumping bail to Nigeria.
Clerk added, “Dariye was informed that if he attempted to move any money, he would be charged for further money laundering.
“In September 2004, I looked at Joshua Dariye in the eyes and
said to him, ‘I know you are a religious man’, I asked him if he would
come back on December 14, 2004. He said ‘yes’, he would, but he failed
to show up. Bentu also failed to show up.
“My colleague searched his property and found £11,995 on the
premises and some flyers. They also found three Barclays cheques. They
were all seized immediately we made an application for his arrest in
London. The arrest warrant is still valid till today. It was circulated
in all computers that Dariye was wanted.”
He said the Metropolitan Police deliberately did not ask for
Dariye’s extradition to London because he was under immunity as a
serving governor, but that soon after he completed his tenure in 2007,
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed charges against him.
He said, “He (Dariye) failed to return for his bail. I
immediately applied for a warrant of arrest, which was granted by a
Magistrate in London. That is still valid. He is wanted in London as of
today.”
Clerk confirmed that the evidence he gave before an impeachment
panel led to Dariye’s removal from office as governor in November 2006,
though he was later reinstated by the Supreme Court.
He, however, said he didn’t complete his evidence before the
investigating panel in Jos “because the defence was playing games” and
he was already scheduled to fly back to London.
He said Dariye operated nine accounts with Barclays Bank.
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Garba Pwul
(SAN), Clerk said the former governor opened the accounts in 1995 but
were not active until 1999.
“From 1995, when the accounts were opened in Barclays Bank,
there were very little activities on the account until May 1999 when he
became the governor of Plateau State. I have six boxes of materials on
this case,” the witness said.
The witness said that a lot of huge cash funds found in Dariye’s
home in London, in his accounts in Barclays Bank of London and some with
his cronies were seized and repatriated to Nigeria.
The witness, who was of the Proceeds of Corruption Unit of the
London Metropolitan Police, said £11,500, kept in a brief case, was
seized from one Christopher Mcquiney, who said the money belonged to
Dariye in January 2004.
He stated that there was one Joyce Oyebanjo, who was helping Dariye
to pay utility bills in London and routinely receiving funds from
Dariye for the maintenance of the former governor’s three children and
his property.
Clerk said the woman was later arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for money laundering.
He explained that a property in London worth £395,000 was seized
from Dariye by the UK government and the proceeds repatriated to
Nigeria.
According to him, the purchase of the property was funded by one Lucky Omohuwa of Pinnacle Communication.
He added, “When I suspected that the money came from Nigeria. I
met the Nigerian ambassador and informed him of the proceedings and
that if he was interested, he might join the proceedings. He did and
wrote that the money be forfeited to the Attorney General.
“The properties that were frozen were then ordered to be sold and the money or proceeds be sent back to Nigeria.”
Some Barclays Bank account statements and cheques were tendered and admitted as exhibits on Monday.
Justice Banjoko adjourned trial till June 6.
The former governor is being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of
alleged diversion of about N1.162bn Ecological Fund meant for Plateau
State in 2004.
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