been sentenced to 16 years in prison for corruption, after his open plea
for mercy before the final judgement in court couldn’t save him.
Dariye had begged for mercy on his case while responding to comments
made by the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, at his trial on Tuesday.
Dariye who was accompanied by family members, friends and political
associates, was found guilty of 15 out of 23 counts after he was charged
with by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
After reading through the judgement, the judge, Mrs. Adebukola Banjoko, gave the lawyers room to speak for their clients.
Justice Adebukola Banjoko, thereafter sentenced Dariye to two years in
prison for criminal breach of trust and 14 years for criminal
misappropriation of funds.
In her ruling, the judge said:
“I welled up while reading (the judgement) thinking of the victims, it
is a litany of woes. They were adults making rational choices. More
importantly, I think what touches me the most, your family, they are
victims.
“Having found the defendant guilty of these counts of criminal breach
trust and criminal appropriation, the court sentences you to two years
for criminal breach of trust and 14 years for criminal appropriation.”
The sentences are to run concurrently, hence he would spend 14 years in prison. The judge gave no option of fine.
