the conviction of an Accused should impose a Severe Punishment/Sentence to deter the Convict
and the General Community from further committing the Crime. Also, the decision in R VS
OKEKE stated that where even the Defence admits that the Offences are Common and Prevalent,
the imposition of a Severe Sentence, will discourage Persons and show that there Consequences
for Illegality. This is the intention.
Finally, the Prisons are only congested with the Ordinary Man in the Street and the Poor, and not
with Persons like the Convict, and to accede to the Convict’s request is to pat him on the back,
saying Go and Sin no more. This can no longer be done with the ACJA and Practice Directions.The
Court should also cause the Defendant to Compensate for the Monies meant for the People of
Plateau State.
A Lesson must be learnt that Persons should bear the Consequences of their Actions and weigh it
properly before they carry it out.
Chief Chibi Joshua Dariye, the Convict then sought the permission of the Court to speak, and
this was granted. He thenpleaded that he is a Blind Man and not a Lawyer, who did as he was
told by his Legal Representation, and the Prosecution cannot predict his State of Mind, and if he,
the Convict dies today, it would not solve the Problems of Nigeria.
Finally, he pleaded with the Court to show him Mercy.
SENTENCING
I cannot imagine such Brazen Act of Systematic Looting and Stealing, as what occurred in this
Case, is it the transfer of nearly half a Billion from the Ecological Funds Account meant for his
State? Or is it the Transfer of Funds from the Account of the Plateau State Government into his
Personal Ventures Account?
The Facts of this Case and the Ensuing Events, left a Litany of Woes and a Devastating Trail of
Victims, who even though they were Adults capable of making Rational Choices, ended up being
scarred. How do we count the Physical, Moral and Sociological Costs of the People involved
inthis Tragedy of Corruption? There was Dr. Kingsley Nkrumah, the Permanent Secretary under
the Ecological Office of the Presidency, who lost his Job and Reputation, was charged to Court
and upon the grant of his Bail, left the Country. Then there was Mr. Awe Odessa, the Banker at
the AllStates Trust Bank, who lost his Job, was jailed and had his Reputation soiled. His Bank,
suffered no less fate when it had its Certificate of Incorporation revoked after being fined. There
was also Mrs Joyce Oyebanjo in London who was jailed for Three and Half Years for Money
Laundering Offences. The most shocking aspect is that regarding the People of Plateau State,
who suffered Financial Losses, and at some period in time, as seen from the Accounts of
Ebenezer Retnan Ventures and Plateau State Government Account before the Court, the
Defendant, through this Venture was richer than Plateau State.
More importantly, his Family would no doubt have suffered as a Result of the Long drawn out
Trauma of the Trial.
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