FORMER GOVERNOR JOSHUA DARIYE BAGS 14 YEARS FOR DIVERTING N1.I62BILLION ECOLOGICAL FUNDS
The judge after reading the judgment gave the lawyers opportunity to speak for their clients and the convict’s lawyer Paul Erokoro, appealed the court to consider the fact that his client “was ignorant of the offence” at the time it was committed.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) begged saying his client was a victim of”the long years of military administration and should be viewed as a victim because he was ignorant of financial fraud and most of their components”, with further claim that his client, who is a chartered accountant, was ignorant of the offence.
Penpushing further reports that, as the counsel was pleading, Dariye suddenly stood up and profusely begged the prosecution lawyer to be merciful, stating, “be merciful. You are a Christian; your name is Jacob,”
The convict, a Serving Senator, was first elected Governor of the State in 1999 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He fought a seemingly endless battle to prevent his trial, from the lower court to the Supreme Court. He was re-elected in 2003, but was later impeached by the state’s House of Assembly in November 2006.
