Money Laundering: EFCC Presents More Witnesses against Dariye

Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)‎ on Tuesday presented a forensic expert at a Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) High Court, sitting in Abuja, in a 23 count charge of money laundering against former governor of Plateau state, Joshua Dariye.


He is being prosecuted before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, for allegedly diverting about N204 million meant for the state treasury to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures. He is also alleged to have siphoned the state’s Ecological Fund to the tune of N1.162 billion.

According to a statement signed by EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Investigations into the alleged fraud had revealed that the mandate card and account opening packages, though had a signature but no passport photograph, while the name on it was, Haruna Dariye – apparently to conceal the real identity of the bank account’s owner.

The forensic document examiner, Dabi Dashong, of the EFCC’s forensic unit, told the court that the team of investigators probing Dariye, had requested the unit to analyse the signatures on the card and other account opening packages, with the aim of identifying its “author”.

“There were two sets of documents, which included the account opening package of All States Trust Bank in respect of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, and a specimen, which is the signature on the statement Dariye made,” he said.

Dachong, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, explained that three methodologies were employed, before arriving at the conclusion that the signature actually belonged to the former governor.

More to follow

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