₦airaland Forum

A retired detective with the Metropolitan
Police in London, Mr. Peter Clerk, on Monday,
narrated to a High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory in Gudu, Abuja, the operations that
led to the arrest of a former Governor of
Plateau State, Mr. Joshua Dariye, 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.
He gave details of Dariye’s alleged extravagant
spending, including the purchase of a pen for
£7,000 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.”
Dariye was Governor of Plateau State between
1999 and 2007, though his tenure was
interrupted by an impeachment in November,
2006, which lasted for months until he was
reinstated by the Supreme Court in April,
2007.
The former governor, who is being prosecuted
by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, is now the Senator representing
Plateau Central in the National Assembly.
Led in evidence by the lead prosecution
counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Clerk said he
was also involved in the investigation of the
former Governor of Bayelsa State, the late
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, for money
laundering in London before he
(Alamieyeseigha) jumped bail.
The witness, who indicated that he started
investigating Dariye in January 2004, said the
former governor Plateau State was arrested in
his hotel room on September 28, 2004, while
on a visit to London.
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.

Source: www.punchng.com/dariye-bought-pen-7000-2004-uk-witness/

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That pen better be able to write down his future without ink.£7,000 pen u can just imagine

Vanity

Some animals here will be like...is it ur money? Ain't this madness?

This is wickedness.

I do not know Dariye well enough , but i am sure people are willing to testify against him ... so , Yam eaters must vomit

Pen that will write down his future and also take him to heaven to write his doing before his creator...


Nigeria Politicians will not kill us with laugh....

This should be used to sign his life jail if find guilty.

That's why Obasanjo pushed him out

‘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.

This Oyinbo man is a major Ekpa, Someone robbed his people to grinding poverty level & you expected him to show up for sure Jail term? I no fit laugh..


BTW, that pen had better be able to write his name in the book of life..

Dariye, Obj's biitch.

“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 Stat

The year 1999 , the year the God of Public Purse Lotto began shining on Naija piliticians...

1999, God picked up the calls of public office holders..

Money from Niger Delta oil.

Thank God Lagos now has oil, less pressure on Niger Delta oil.

My God!!!!!

Wat is d problem with this politicians?......they all have reprobate mind

That man is corruption personified.

Nigerians are now doing a good job calling out the corrupt.

There's no shielding those who got us to this point in the first place.

Abi the pen want write letter to God?

IPORK one of your members needs you to shout witch hunting

One of the fantastically corrupt Nigerian leader.

The pen de write by hinsef? The pen the predict the future?

modath:
This Oyinbo man is a major Ekpa, Someone robbed his people to grinding poverty level & you expected him to show up for sure Jail term? I no fit laugh..


BTW, that pen had better be able to write his name in the book of life..

the religious part was a shade. "you are religious and corrupt.