Just In: Court Reduces Former Governor Dariye’s Jail Term From 14 To 10 Years

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has slashed the sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment passed on a former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, earlier this year to 10 years.

Naija News recalls that Dariye was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without fine by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, on June 12, 2018 after he was found guilty on a 6-count charge on the allegation of unlawful transferring of funds to the sum of N1.126 billion ecological needs of the state to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the southwest.

Delivering judgement on Friday, the three-man panel ruled that the maximum sentence of 14 years was excessive especially because the former governor was a first-time offender.

The Appeal Court said the lower court erred in law when it sentenced Dariye excessively but it upheld that Dariye was guilty and the conviction, correct.

The 14 years sentence for breach of trust was reduced to 10 years and the conviction for the diversion of fund was reduced from two years to one.

The sentences will however run concurrently.