The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has called on the Federal government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and judiciary not allow the ‘delay tactics’ being deployed by former Governor of Plataeu State, Senator Joshua Dariye to scuttle the judicial process on his fraud case being prosecuted by the EFCC, for allegedly diverting N1.162bn from the state’s Ecological Fund, to private companies and individuals.
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, reacting to the report that Dariye, currently representing Plateau-Central Senatorial district in the Senate, has accused his trial judge of bias through a letter written to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Abuja, described the move as an ‘overplayed tactic’ to escape justice!
“Akin to what the Senate President shamelessly resorted to over his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Senator Joshua Dariye is accusing the trial Judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko sitting over his fraud case of ‘undisguised bias’ to achieve the truncation of the criminal trials.”
“We know ex-Governor is not new to this game of ‘clogging the wheel of justice’, he practically maneuvered and toyed with the judicial system for over 9 years before this trial could start trial at all, an act which made the Nigerian Judicial system laughable.”
The EFCC, in 2007, preferred money laundering and charges bordering on the diversion of the Ecological funds against Dariye, APC, who recently decamped to the All Progressive Congress. He was reported to have sought an ‘application for transfer on ground of manifest and undisguised bias’. Justice Banjoko, on Wednesday adjourned the case to February 15, 2017 for hearing of the applications.
The CACOL Leader said, “we must warn the APC led Federal government that achieving justice in Dariye’s case must not be compromised on the altar of political expediencies. We say this based of the droves of corruption criminal suspects that are decamping to the ruling party, a party that rode to power on the mantra of ‘change and fighting corruption to a standstill’.”
“People like Dariye, Saraki, Stella Oduah and co do not deserve to be sitting in that prestigious Chamber based on how soiled their characters are. It is because of dis-honunourable persons like Dariye and his co-travelers that almost all that comes out of the Senate are never in tandem with the interest of the vast majority of Nigerians.’
“We call on the EFCC to ensure the diligent prosecution of the Dariye case and others to achieve logical conclusions which will see those whose culpability are established facing the full wrath of the law. They must not be allowed to cleverly wriggle through the labyrinths of the laws to pervert the cause of justice.”
“President Muhammadu Buhari in particular must ensure that the corruption criminal suspects seeking refuge in his party and residing in it do not escape justice if he intends to keep the credibility of the anti-corruption safe and the boat afloat!”
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
January 19, 2017
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