Dariye Bought Pen For £7,000 In 2004 –UK Witness
Mr Clerk, on Monday, testified before Justice Adebukola Banjoko as the ninth prosecution witness in the trial of the former governor on charges of alleged diversion of about 1.162 billion Naira 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 (EFCC), is now the Senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly.
Led in evidence by the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Mr 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 that the former governor of 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 noted, “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. Mr 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.
Mr Clerk maintained, “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.''
Comments
Post a Comment