AN Abuja High Court yesterday ordered the former Taraba State Governor, Rev. Jolly Tevoru Nyame and his Plateau State counterpart, Joshua Chibi Dariye to be remanded in Kuje Prisons.
Two other former governors, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State and Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State are already in the same prison.
The trial Justice Abimbola Banjoko, ordered that the former Taraba State Chief Executive be remanded in prison custody pending her decision on his bail application scheduled for July 30. Justice Banjoko also fixed decision on Dariye’s bail request for July 26.
Whereas Nyame is facing a 41-count charge for allegedly stealing over N1.6 billion of the state, Dariye was alleged to have stolen about N750 million from his state coffers.
The trials judge fixed both dates after hearing arguments for their separate bail applications and the objections raised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the said applications.
Arguing Nyame’s bail application, Emmanuel Toro (SAN) submitted that Nyame, being a first offender with no previous record of conviction anywhere, could be granted bail on the presumption of innocence, which was a constitutionally guaranteed ground.
Toro argued that the offences for which the immediate past governor was charged was bailable and therefore entitled his client to that reprieve, albeit tentative.
He submitted that if his client was granted bail, he would make himself available for trial, would not jump bail and would be willing to meet whatever condition the court would place on him for bail.
But EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, opposed the application, submitting that the accused/applicant did not place sufficient materials before the court to enable the court exercise its discretion in his favour.
He informed the court that the prosecution witnesses were mostly civil servants in the Taraba State civil service who could be easily influenced by the accused if granted bail.
Some of the witnesses, he said, were in protective custody for the purpose of shielding them from interference by the accused.
Similarly, EFCC also opposed the bail application of Dariye standing trial before the same court for alleged criminal breach of trust, diversion of state funds, stealing, dishonest misappropriation and bribery.
Jacobs prayed the court not to admit Dariye to bail because he has a history of jumping bails.
He drew the attention of the court to an incident in September 2000, when Dariye was arrested and charged in a London court for money laundering but jumped bail.
Jacobs also said that Dariye has “an international warrant of arrest hanging on his neck”, besides “he is a wanted man,” and if released, he might jump bail.
Arguing further, the EFCC counsel said the charge against him was weighty and attracted a minimum jail of 14 years if found guilty.
He also told the court that, if the accused is released on bail, he might interfere with investigation and prosecution witnesses.
To persuade the court against granting Dariye bail, Jacobs said that there was a Police report on the accused while in office as Plateau governor, on how he harassed and assaulted EFCC investigators in Jos.
He urged the court to dismiss the application for bail of the accused filed by his lawyer, Mr. Conrad Joseph.
Earlier, Joseph had prayed the court to admit his client to bail on the ground that the law presumed him innocent until proved guilty.
He also told the court that the accused “is willing and able” to meet with the conditions that might be attached to the bail.
Justice Banjoko ordered that Dariye and Nyame be remanded in prison custody until her decision on their separate applications fixed for July 26 and 30.