Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: image_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
Notice: Undefined index: image_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, to forfeit his Abuja residence to the federal government.
Dariye is presently serving a prison sentence after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission successfully prosecuted him in the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court on accusations of criminal breach of trust and dishonest conversion of over N1.2 billion belonging to Plateau State.
In a ruling, Justice Obiora Egwuatu refused Dariye’s request for the court to transfer the property known as Plot 1802 A04, No: 19 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja to him, among other things.
Dariye’s allegation that the land belonged to his company, Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, was incorrect, according to Justice Egwuatu, because the corporation was proven to be a fictitious entity.
A prior interim forfeiture order on the property, obtained by the EFCC during Dariye’s trial, was never contested, according to the Judge.
He further stated that he cannot claim legitimate possession due to the trial court’s ruling that he was acting in the name of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered corporation in whose name the property was obtained.
While opposing Dariye’s motion, the EFCC contended, among other things, that it secured an interim forfeiture order in respect of the property during Dariye’s trial, which order was to remain in effect until the trial was completed.
It went on to say that “now that the trial has completed and Dariye has been imprisoned, the court should order the final seizure of the convict’s known property”.
EFCC stated: “The charge against the respondent (now convicted): FCT/CR/81/2007 between Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye was determined resulting into the respondent’s conviction.
“Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the convict on of the respondent.
“The apex court affirmed the conviction of the respondent on the charge of criminal breach of trust punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code and also that the N1,161,162,300.00 belonging to Plateau State Government had clearly been dishonestly converted by the respondent to his own use by the intricate dishonest contrivance.
“By the decision of the Supreme Court in Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye vs. FRN, appeal No: SC/1206C/2018, delivered on the 12th March, 2021, it is affirmed that Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered company was involved and used to commit the crime for which the respondent was convicted.
“By the decision of the Supreme Court in Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye vs. FRN, appeal No: SC/1206C/2018, delivered on the 12th March, 2021 at page 41, it is affirmed that there are credible evidence that the respondent was masquerading in the name of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered company to cause wrongful gain to himself.”
Fatimah Oyesanmi
Comment here