A High Court in Abuja has sentenced Joshua Dariye, a former governor of Plateau state, to 14-years in prison.
Dariye was found guilty of 15 counts out of 23 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
Dariye, a serving senator was found guilty of diverting One Billion Ecological Funds for Plateau state while he was a governor.
The former governor was said to have used an account belonging to Ebenezer Reitner Ventures, a company he owns, to divert ecological fund.
The account was domiciled in Sun Trust Bank.
Dariye has been standing trial for over ten years.
After delivering a judgement which lasted for over five hours by Adebukola Banjoko, the judge, Paul Eroko, counsel to Dariye pleaded for a light sentence.
Dariye’s son, Nanle, is also being arraigned for money laundering.
The former Plateau state governor, has asked the Court to show him mercy.
He made the appeal on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
“Appeals to your judgement do not succeed, we will fall on your mercy. The prisons are congested,” Eroko pleaded.
“They misled the governor, it is the bank, they said he didn’t have to present anything,” the counsel said.
But, Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to EFCC, said Dariye did not show any form of remorse.
He urged the court not give Dariye a light sentence so that it would serve as a deterrence to those holding public offices.
“He is not remorseful, his case should serve as a deterrence,” Jacobs said.
At this point, Dariye broke his silence.
“Have mercy, you are a Christian, your name is Jacob,” Dariye begged.
The former governor was then whisked away by the Police.
