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| Senator Joshua Dariye |
The Metropolitan Police Service, London, United Kingdom,
yesterday, told an Abuja High Court sitting at Gudu that Senator Joshua Dariye;
former governor of Plateau State, was still wanted in the United Kingdom over
his alleged involvement in money laundering.
According to the
Service, a 2004 warrant of arrest issued against Dariye, after he jumped bail
in London and escaped to Nigeria to avoid prosecution, is still valid and would
be invoked upon anytime the suspect visits the United Kingdom.
The detective that
led a team of Met police officers that arrested Dariye on September 28, 2004,
Mr. Peter Clerk, testified before the court yesterday as the ninth prosecution
witness at the resumed hearing of a 23-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against the former governor before the high
court.
Clark emphatically
disclosed that the ex-governor’s arrest and subsequent detention followed an
investigation into a credit card fraud involving one Christopher McQuiney, who
he stated was caught with 11,500 Pounds concealed in a briefcase alleged to
belonged to the Senator adding that he had also testified before an investigating
committee in Jos.
Various
amounts reportedly traced to the serving Senator’s nine different accounts
believably public fund belonging to the Plateau State are as follows.
£11,560 -
found on Dariye’s aide allegedly involved in a credit card fraud
£43,000 -found
in Dariye’s hotel room
£50,000 -
found with Dariye’s personal assistant
£395,000 -paid
for a London property bought by a firm for Dariye
7,000 Euros -paid for one pen
£700 -spent on each pair of seven shoes
allegedly found in Dariye’s hotel room
The witness gave a clue on how he investigated and arrived at the conclusion
that the former governor has cases to answer.
"After I got the court order, I was able to gain access to
the accounts operated by Dariye. I received the bank statement, the personal
customer profile, which is the information provided to the bank, while the
account was operated by Dariye.
“He first operated the account in 1995 and he told the
bank that he was employed as a manager for Benue Cement Company, and that he
was on a £500,000 yearly salary.
“There were nine bank accounts operated by him. Some of
them were dormant, but some were high interest- bearing accounts, which showed
a £816,000 balance. Closer examination of the account showed that money was
being transferred into the account from a company called Ebenezer Retnan
Ventures (ERV) with about £440,000, and the bank sending in the money was
All States Trust Bank in Nigeria.
“There were a number of other electronic transfers
directly made by Joshua Dariye himself; and from memory, I remember Lion Bank.
Mr. Dariye also operated a credit card and all the accounts were registered at
one address: Flat 28, Regent Plaza Apartments, 8 Greville Road,” the witness
said.
Speaking further, the witness also told the court how
Dariye allegedly bought property in London, using a proxy. He said Dariye
opened nine accounts in Barclays Bank in 1995, but with little activities until
May 1999 when he became governor.
“The money that was paid by this company (Pinnacle
Communications Limited) amounted to 395,000pounds for the property at No: 28
Regent Plaza Apartment, 8 Grevile Road, London, NW8. Barclays Bank confirmed that Pinnacle Communications had
an account with their branch in North West.
"One Lucky Omoluwa and his driver,
were arrested by me. The driver said prior to the day of the purchase, he drove
Dariye to purchase the apartment.
“Lucky was arrested and he admitted that he purchased the
property for Dariye and that he was given naira equivalent in Nigeria.
“From examining Mr. Dariye’s account, we discovered that
he travelled all over the world. From his passport, we saw stamps from several
countries. We found seven pairs of shoes, which cost 700pounds per pair. He
paid Euro7,000 for a pen. He purchased a lot of things in high luxurious
stores.
“I’m here on my own free will. I started the investigation
of the case in January 2004 in London. So, as a good police officer, I was
interested in seeking to the end of the case I started. That was why I came. He broke the law in London by not coming back. He signed
an undertaking to return but he refused to return. Mr. Dariye knows he is
wanted in London. That is why he has not returned to London. Since 2004 and
now, 2016, he has not returned to the UK. Before then, he used to frequent
London every now and then”, he said.
The witness said he attended the court yesterday because
of the invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
adding that his trip to Nigeria, accommodation and all other expenses have been
taken care of by the National Crime Agency of the UK and the British High
Commission in Nigeria
After listening to Clerk’s testimony, Justice Adebukola
Banjoko adjourned till June 6 for continuation of trial.
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