The British Government has said it is not responsible for the investi-gation against Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State over alleged money laundering even as he declared that the London Metropolitan Police is carrying out the investigation as an independent body.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney said it was inaccurate to say that the British Government was conducting the investigation or has made allegations against governor Dariye.
The letter, which was read by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Honourable Simon Balong in the floor of the House yesterday, asserted, “the British Investigation into the Governor Dariye in connection with possible money laundering offences is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police Service. The Metropolitan Police is an autonomous service and its inves-tigations are independent of government.
Mr. Gozney, who added that the investigation against Governor Dariye was purely a police matter, stressed that it was important to clarify the role of the British government in relation to the issue as according to him, the correspondence between the Plateau House of Assembly and the Attorney-General raised an important point to be clarified.
The British High Commissioner’s letter was in response to the Plateau House of Assembly reply to the Attorney-General’s letter of 10th November, on allegations of criminal offences against Governor Dariye, which was copied to the British High Commission.
Mr. Gozney, however, said the British Government was committed to working closely with the Nigerian authorities in all areas for which it is responsible in the fight against crime and corru-ption.
Meanwhile, Governor Dariye did not honour the scheduled meeting with the Metropolitan Police Service yesterday.
He, however, sent two of his lawyers, Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN) and Ben Nwabueze (SAN).
However, since Friday, Governor Dariye has not gone to work and Government House sources said he spent the weekend holding meetings with Plateau PDP elders with regards to the face-off between him and Senator Ibrahim Mantu.
Also yesterday, Governor Dariye was not in office but conducted official duties from his residence with directive to the policemen at the gate not to allow anybody into the residence.
Security meeting which was scheduled for Monday was postponed at the last minute and no reason was given for the postponement.
