Dariye’s Trial: Defence Makes U-turn, Shelves No-case Submission

The trial of a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, continued on June 14, 2016 before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja, with the defence counsel, G. S. Pwul, SAN, telling the court that he has decided to shelve his intention to seek a “no-case” submission and so would want to open his defence.

Dariye is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly siphoning the state’s ecological fund to the tune of N1.16 billion.
At the sitting of June 6, 2016 when the prosecution closed its case against Dariye, Pwul had told the court that it would open its defence on the adjourned date of June 10, 2016 and “we intend to present seven witnesses”, only to turn around to say that it intended to seek a no-case submission.
On the said date, Pwul informed the court that he intended to raise a no-case submission. He had said: “The matter is for opening of defence, however, I am constrained to start today, as I could not get the record of proceedings of PW1, PW4, PW5 and PW9, besides, we intend to raise a no-case submission.”
Justice Banjoko, thereafter, adjourned to June 14, 2016 to take arguments on the no-case submission.
However at today’s sitting, Pwul, again turned around to tell the court that the defence now intends to open its case. He moved a motion for a writ of summons for four witnesses being sought by the defence.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, raised no objections to his motion. Justice Banjoko, subsequently, endorsed the summons, which were to be served on the witnesses.
Justice Banjoko, thereafter, adjourned to June 17, 2016 for the defence to open its case.