Joshua Dariye
Joshua Chibi Dariye is a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing the Plateau Central senatorial district from 2011 to 2019. He previously served as the governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2006 when he was impeached. He was later re-instated by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the same year and he continued his tenure until May 2007.
Background
Born in Mushere, Bokkos in Plateau State, Nigeria, Dariye was a businessman before venturing into politics. He was also a strong mobilizer for Olusegun Obasanjo's presidential re-election in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries in 1999 as well as election proper in 2003.Political career
Governor of Plateau State
As governor, Dariye was arrested in London, England on 20 January 2004. Because Nigerian governors are protected by immunity during their tenure, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested him in 2007 when his tenure ended, charging him of money laundering of about 9 million dollars.Impeachment
In early October 2006, eight of the twenty-four state assembly members issued an impeachment notice against Dariye. In his defence, he stated that the notice was invalid as the eight did not form a quorum of the assembly as required by the law. A crowd of Dariye's supporters tried to prevent the assembly members from entering the state assembly building. Riot police then fired into the crowd, killing two protestors.Dariye was impeached on 13 November 2006. His deputy, Michael Botmang, replaced him as the governor. On 10 March 2007, after a Court of Appeal ordered Dariye reinstated as governor, the state government announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. On 27 April 2007, the Supreme Court rejected the state government's petition and clarified the further reinstation of Dariye.
Following his reinstatement, Dariye's term of office as Governor of Plateau State concluded on 29 May 2007.
Senator
In April 2011, Dariye was elected Senator for Plateau Central Senatorial District under the Labour Party. He received 189,140 votes, defeating Dawuda Gowon of the PDP, younger brother of former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, who received 160,106 votes. On 28 March 2015, he was re-elected after having 189,150 votes.Criminal trial
Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in 2007, filed 23 counts of money laundering charges involving alleged diversion of about N1.126 billion Plateau State Government's ecological funds, against Dariye.He pleaded not guilty to the charges following which the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, fixed 13 November 2007 for the commencement of trial.
But before that date, Dariye filed an application, challenging the competence of the charges and the jurisdiction of the court. He argued that he ought to be tried before a Plateau State High Court and not the FCT High Court.
On 13 December 2007, the trial judge heard and dismissed Dariye's application for lacking in merit. Dariye appealed against the ruling of the court. But the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of Justice Banjoko. Dariye subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.
But the apex court, on 27 February 2015 dismissed Dariye's appeal and ordered him to submit himself for trial.