N1.16b fraud: Dariye used ‘misappropriated’ ecological funds to purchase office equipment – Witness

A witness in the trial of a former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, has said the used part of the alleged misappropriated N1.16 billion ecological fund of the state to purchase equipment for the state’s Abuja Liaison Office.
The 10th defence witness, Gideon Mitu, a Permanent Secretary at the Plateau State’s Abuja Liaison Office, disclosed this while being led in evidence by Dariye’s counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN), at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu District.
The witness however told the court that he does not know how much was paid because he was not part of the team that negotiated for the equipment.
Mitu reiterated that he knows as a matter of fact that the equipment were purchased and delivered to the Plateau State Liaison Office.
Dariye, who was elected the senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District in 2011, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Adebukola Banjoko for allegedly siphoning about N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state and diverting about N204 million meant for the state treasury to Ebenezer Retinun Ventures, a company linked to him.
While under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), at the resumed trial on Wednesday, Mitu said as a staff of the Budget Office during the administration of Dariye as governor of the state, he knew that payment were made from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and since he doesn’t work there, he doesn’t know where the money was paid into.
“We only raise the financial instruments, for example warrants and authorities, to enter expenditure,” he said.
When asked whether the statutory allocations of the state was ever paid into his account, he said he never received any fund on behalf of Plateau State.
He said: “Federation Account Allocation Committee is the one that distributes statutory allocations to all tiers of government.
“It will be wrong to pay the state’s statutory allocation to my account or to the account of any other civil servant.”
After hearing the testimony of the defense witness, Justice Banjoko adjourned the matter to November 16 and 17 for the defence to conclude its case.