IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
IN THE ABUJA JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN AT ABUJA
BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP HON. JUSTICE A.A.I. BANJOKO- JUDGE
DELIVERED ON THE 12TH OF JUNE 2018
CHARGE NO: FCT/HC/CR/81/07
BETWEEN
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA…………………………………………………………..……………..COMPLAINANT
AND
CHIEF JOSHUA CHIBI DARIYE……………………………………………………….……………………...….DEFENDANT
ROTIMI JACOBS SAN WITH H.O. EJIGA ESQ, O.A. ATOLAGBE ESQ, TAYO OLUKOTUN ESQ FOR THE
PROSECUTION
KANU G. AGABI (CON), SAN WITH PAUL EROKORO SAN, JOHN OCHOGWU ESQ, PETER
ERIVWODE ESQ AND AKINOLA AFOLARIN ESQ FOR THE DEFENCE
JUDGMENT
Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, a Former Two-Term Governor of Plateau State of Nigeria from 1999 to
2007 and currently a Serving Senator at the National Assembly representing Plateau Central
Senatorial District is charged on a23 Count Amended Charge Sheet dated and filed on the 9th of May
2016 before this Court for the following Counts of Offences: COUNT 1
That you CHIEF JOSHUA CHIBI DARIYE on or about 19th July, 2001 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial
Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory while being the Governor of Plateau State
and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain Properties to wit: the Cheque in the Sum of
N1, 161, 162, 900.00 (One Billion, One Hundred and Sixty One Million, One Hundred and Sixty
Two Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira), which you collected from the Ecological Funds Office in
Abuja for and on behalf of Plateau State Government and which Sum was meant to address the
ecological problems of the State committed Criminal Breach of Trust in respect of the said Properties
when you deposited the Cheque with your Banker (AllStates Trust Bank Plc.) Abuja Branch and
cleared same through the said Bank, where you operated an Account in the name of an Unregistered
Company (Ebenezer Retnan Ventures), without paying the Cheque into the Account of Plateau State
Government that it was meant for and you committed an Offence punishable under Section 315 of
the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.
COUNT 2
1