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Gov Dariye’s Jail Sentence Best Democracy Day Gift To Nigerians, Says ANEEJ

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]enin City, Nigeria – Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has hailed the 14-year jail sentence slapped on former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye for diverting N1.162 billion state ecological funds, while in office from 1999 to 2007 for his personal use, describing it as the best Democracy Day gift to Nigerians.

A serving senator, Dariye’s conviction on Tuesday June 12, 2018 by an Abuja Federal Capital Territory High Court placed him as the second former governor in the country to be taken of the streets of Nigeria and sent to jail on corruption charges without an option of fines since the beginning of the Buhari administration in 2015.

In his reaction to the landmark judgement against the ex-Governor, ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor noted: “the Court, through the judgment, delivered the best Democracy Day gift to Nigerians as the rule of law remains a significant hallmark for the flourishing of democracy, a tenet that the Late Chief M.K.O Abiola lived and died for.

“All Nigerians, irrespective of religion or tribe attest to the fact that Corruption has been a serious impediment to the growth and development of the country since independence in 1960. To nip this problem in the bud requires a strong judiciary that promptly delivers sound judgments and punishes corruption timeously.”

Rev Ugolor further commended the Judiciary for its latest effort at dealing with corruption cases, as Joshua Dariye is the second former governor in one month who has been sentenced to prison without an option of fine.

“Convicting former Governor Joshua Dariye is good news. Dispossessing him of the looted assets is key to ending corruption because when looters are not allowed to enjoy proceeds of corruption, it goes a long way in ending the business of corruption.

“We therefore commend the Nigerian judiciary, which is now living up to its billing as the last hope of the common man by rising to halt impunity in the looting of the public treasury.

“The Federal Capital Territory High Court’s sentence of Senator Dariye to two years in prison for criminal breach of trust and 14 years for criminal misappropriation of funds, and forcing down hot tears down his cheeks is significantly deterring.’’

ANEEJ, he said, equally believes that if the same kind of will put to bear to convict the former governor of Plateau state is put to bear on all of these high-profile corruption cases, Nigeria would not need to use the institutional mechanisms of foreign countries to rein in the corrupt in Nigeria.

“This is the time to use this case as a deterrent to future cases of official misdemeanor,” Ugolor said.