N1.16b SIPHONE: Dariye opens defence, June 17

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja, has fixed June 17 for the former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, to open his case, following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegation that he siphoned the state’s ecological fund to the tune of N1.16 billion.

The trial continued on Tuesday, with the defence counsel, G. S. Pwul, SAN, telling the court that he has decided to shelve his intention to seek a “no-case” submission and so would want to open his defence.

At the sitting of June 6, 2016 when the prosecution closed its case against Dariye, Pwul had told the court that it would open its defence on the adjourned date of June 10, 2016 and “we intend to present seven witnesses”, only to turn around to say that it intended to seek a no-case submission.

On the said date, Pwul informed the court that he intended to raise a no-case submission. He had said: “The matter is for opening of defence, however, I am constrained to start today, as I could not get the record of proceedings of PW1, PW4, PW5 and PW9, besides, we intend to raise a no-case submission.”

Justice Banjoko, thereafter, adjourned to June 14, 2016 to take arguments on the no-case submission.

However at today’s sitting, Pwul, again turned around to tell the court that the defence now intends to open its case. He moved a motion for a writ of summons for four witnesses being sought by the defence.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, raised no objections to his motion. Justice Banjoko, subsequently, endorsed the summons, which were to be served on the witnesses.