‘Ex-gov was arrested in 2007 when Agabi was AGF’

Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), has taken over as new defence lawyer for former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, who is facing trial before an FCT High Court in Gudu.

Dariye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting about N1.162 billion from the state’s Ecological Fund to private companies and individuals.

The trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko on March 20 granted the application by Dariye’s former counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN), to withdraw from further representing the ex-governor.

When the matter resumed yesterday, Agabi announced appearance for Dariye and applied for adjournment to enable him get acquainted with the case.

“I am appealing for the very last time and beg you on my knees. I have also pleaded with Rotimi Jacobs, grant us one more adjournment to get acquainted with the case,” Agabi said.

Agabi is the fourth senior lawyer to represent Dariye in the trial which began since 2007.

Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the case had tarried for long.

Jacobs told the court that Agabi was the Attorney General of the Federation when Dariye was arrested and investigated in 2007. “How can he then come and appear as defence counsel,” he asked.

He said the former AGF was the one who even wrote a letter for the repatriation of some of the funds allegedly looted by Dariye from the United Kingdom.

However, Justice Banjoko, granted the adjournment, and ordered that the new counsel be furnished with the records of proceedings to get acquainted with the case.

The judge adjourned the matter to October 10.