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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Police arrest Dariye in London
By Our Reporters
SUSPENDED Plateau State Governor, Joshua Chibi Dariye, was yesterday morning picked up by the British police in London.
A sum of �80,000 (N20 million) was reportedly found on him while over �2 million (about N500 million) was discovered in his bank account.
He may be charged for money-laundering. It was not known last night when exactly he left Nigeria but The Guardian learnt that Dariye had been in London for a few days before he was picked up yesterday.
No government spokesperson could confirm the former governor's situation by last night. There were indications, however, that top officials of the National Security Office may already be aware of his arrest.
Dariye is currently under suspension following a state of emergency declared in Plateau State on May 18 over a protracted ethno-religious crisis.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who declared the emergency, accused Dariye of "dereliction of duty" which includes several foreign trips without the approval of the Presidency.
An army of Dariye opponents had been built even before the 2003 elections, as obstacles were mounted on his way to a second term in office.
The governor was roundly condemned by his political opponents for the troubles in the state. The non-payment of salaries and the sacking of civil servants were seen as unforgivable sins.
He was equally condemned for his alleged inability to deliver on his promises of enhanced developments while the construction and rehabilitation of water projects, roads and other executed projects were seen as mere cosmetic gesture.
In announcing his suspension from office, President Obasanjo accused Dariye of gross dereliction of duty, incompetence and insensitivity to the situation in the state. He also accused him of disregarding and disrespecting constituted authority.
Obasanjo said that contrary to presidential advice that governors should inform the Presidency before travelling abroad, Dariye often travelled without complying with the order. Obasanjo based his actions on section 305 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which states inter-alia: "Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the President may by instrument published in the official gazette of the government of the federation issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the federation on any part thereof."
Said Obasanjo in May: "In this year alone, the governor of Plateau State has travelled out of the country more than four times without bothering to notify me (and) when crisis broke out in his state, the governor made no effort to return home immediately (as) he was away for about two weeks. When he did return to the country, his first priority was to attend the sports festival in Abuja at a time when his state was burning."
Immediately after the state of emergency was declared,` state governors under the aegis of the governors' forum held a meeting with President Obasanjo and called for the lifting of the suspension. They also pledged to co-operate with the government towards the resolution of all ethnic, economic and religious crises.
In an attempt to pressurise President Obasanjo to lift the state of emergency, members of the Plateau State House of Assembly instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos. Joined in the suit No. FHC/J/CS/64/2004 were the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and the National Assembly.
In the originating summons, the lawmakers sought the interpretation on whether the President could exercise his power to declare a state of emergency in the state pursuant to sections 305 (1), (3), (c) and (d) of the constitution of Nigeria without compliance with or recourse to section 305 (4) and (5) of the constitution.
Before joining politics, Dariye, a seasoned Chartered Accountant, was a Tax Consultant and Administrator. He was born on July 27, 1957 at Horop, Bokkos Council. He is also a member of many professional bodies - the Nigerian Institute of Bankers (NIB) Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management - among others. His educational qualification includes WAEC, Higher National Diploma (HND) and a Masters in Business Administration from St Clements University, Australia.
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