The Senator representing Plateau Central Zone in the National Assembly, Joshua Dariye, who is currently serving a 14-year jail term, has purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form to return to the Senate in 2019. New Telegraph reliably gathered yesterday that the Legislative Aide of the Senator, one Abel, had purchased the Senate nomination form at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja and also submitted same on September 7. Another source, who wouldn’t want his name in print and a close associate of the Dariye, toldNew Telegraph that: “I am aware that Senator Dariye has purchased and filled the APC nomination and declaration of interest to contest in the forthcoming APC primary election and also the 2019 general elections to represent the good people of Plateau Central in the 9th National Assembly.”
It would be recalled that on June 12, 2018, a High Court of Federal Capital Territory, sitting at Gudu, convicted and sentenced Dariye to 14 years’ imprisonment for diverting public funds to the tune of N1.126 billion. Dariye, who was governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007, was found guilty on 15 out of the 23-count criminal charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preferred against him.
The court said it was satisfied that the defendant, being a public officer that had full dominion and control of ecological funds the Federal Government released to Plateau State in 2001, converted and diverted same for his personal use. It held that the ex-governor criminally misappropriated funds and acted in violent breach of public trust and his oath of office. Dariye had, before his sentence was announced by the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, describing himself as a victim of circumstance.
