Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Ex-Plateau Gov’s Dariye’s Mansion

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of the Abuja mansion acquired by a former Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye to the Federal Government.

Dariye is serving jail term following his successful prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on charges of criminal breach of trust and dishonest conversion of about N1.2billion belonging to Plateau State.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment on Monday, dismissed an application by Dariye in which he had among others, prayed the court to release the property known as Plot 1802 A04, No: 19 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja to him.

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Justice Egwuatu upheld the argument by a lawyer to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe that Dariye’s claim that the property belonged to his company – Ebenezer Retnan Ventures – was false because the said company has been found to be a bogus entity.

The judge found that an earlier interim forfeiture order on the property, obtained by the EFCC in the course of Dariye’s trial, was never contested.

He added that in view of the finding by the trial court that was masquerading in the name of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, an unregistered company and in whose name the property was acquired, he cannot claim legitimate ownership.