Friday, February 1, 2008

EFCC drops charges against Dariye
From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

THE Federal Government yesterday dropped charges of money laundering and corrupt enrichment it preferred against former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

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Consequently, Judge Babs Kuewumi struck out the case as Dariye's counsel, Pius Akuboh (SAN), did not object to the withdrawal.

Dariye was charged before the court last year by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering over N900 million belonging to Plateau State while he was governor.

At the resumption of the trial, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi, moved an application withdrawing the charges against the accused.

Outside the courtroom, Adeniyi told reporters that the charges were withdrawn because they were similar to those preferred against the accused at an Abuja High Court.

"The charges are almost the same and the prosecution witnesses for the two charges are the same, so we had to withdraw this to avoid double jeopardy," he said.

Meanwhile, the trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Saminu Turaki yesterday suffered another setback, as it could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge, Binta Murtala-Nyako.

Although parties anxiously awaited her arrival, it was not until two hours later that the court registrar announced that the judge would not sit and that parties to suits for the day should take new dates.

Upon mutual consent of counsel to the parties, the case was adjourned till January 14.

The accused was charged with laundering over N6 billion belonging to Jigawa State and for looting the treasury of the state while he was governor.