General
Dariye Loses Another Bid to Frustrate N1.2b Fraud Trial
By Dipo Olowookere
Former Plateau State Governor, Mr Joshua Dariye, has again lost his bid to scuttle his N1.162 billion fraud trial, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gudu, Abuja, on March 6, 2017 threw out his motion seeking for his lordship to be disqualified from the trial.
Mr Dariye, who is facing a 23-count charge for allegedly diverting the state’s Ecological Fund to private companies including Ebenezer Retnan Ventures and Pinnacle Communications Limited, had in January lost in a similar bid, having applied to Justice U.I. Bello, the Chief Judge, CJ of the FCT High Court, accusing the trial judge of “manifest and undisguised bias”, and seeking for the case file to be transferred to another judge.
The CJ threw out the application and ordered Mr Dariye to go and continue with his trial before the judge as his allegation of bias was “baseless”.
At the time Mr Dariye sent his letter to the CJ, dated December 13, 2016 his defence counsel, G.S. Pwul, SAN, also brought two motions to the court, one of which was the one asking the trial judge to “disqualify” his lordship from the case.
He had also applied to the court, seeking for the recall of two principal witnesses, Musa Sunday, an EFCC operative who was cross-examined by both the prosecution and defence on January 25, 2016 and Peter Clark, a retired detective constable with the United Kingdom, UK Metropolitan Police, who was cross-examined by both counsels on May 9, 2016.
At the last sitting on March 2, 2017 Pwul, while arguing the applications, contended that it was necessary to recall the witnesses “in relation to new evidence”.
Citing exhibits D6 – D34 as the reasons for the recall, he further argued that there was need to further cross-examine Sunday as regards transactions between the Plateau State government and Pinnacle Communications Limited. He had also urged the court to summon Clark “in relation to his evidence and investigation activities carried out in the United Kingdom and to confront him with new evidence”.
Prosecution counsel, Adeniyi Adebisi, in his argument contended that the defence was provided with the list of all the witnesses in the proof of evidence, which included the names of the witnesses, which it wanted to bring to the court.
He added that “the defence knew in advance the witnesses to be called by the prosecution and so had adequate time and opportunity to review their statements and all evidence referred to were in existence and available long before Musa Sunday and Peter Clark testified before the court”.
Adebisi further argued that: “Dariye was present at all proceedings and well represented by his counsel who thoroughly cross-examined the two witnesses.” He reminded the court that Clark had retired and during the trial “the defence was never stampeded and the court didn’t force the counsel to conclude his cross-examination”.
He surmised that: “The applications are a ploy to delay the case and the Supreme Court has given directive for expeditious hearing”. He urged the court to dismiss the applications “with substantial cost”.
Justice Banjoko in ruling on the motion seeking for his lordship to be disqualified from the case, said: “I have no interest whatsoever in this case and I have so far presided over the case without fear or favour, and in line with my oath of office and so the motion lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.”
The trial judge ruling on the second motion, noted that “the defence has called 16 witnesses and is now seeking to reopen prosecution’s case when defence is still going on”, and “the prosecution has already closed its case”.
The trial judge citing several authorities noted that while a recall by a party involved in a case is not out of order, “a recall is permitted only by a trial judge” and based on two facts that the party seeking a recall brings to the court “good enough facts as well as questions he intends to ask the witness which in this instance the defence has not done”.
While dismissing the application seeking for recall of Clark, the trial judge ruled that: “I have carefully considered all the authorities and submissions of counsels and found that Peter Clark the prosecution witness nine, PW9, resides in a territorial jurisdiction outside of Nigeria and in his oral testimony he stated that he retired on 9 March 2015, and came to Nigeria on his own freewill to see to the end of an investigation he started and the court can see that the witness was extensively cross-examined by the defence and the defence was not curtailed or prevented and so had maximum advantage to cross-examine him.”
The trial judge noted that Clark was a master of his own time and there was nothing to hold that he still resides in the UK since his retirement and moreover, he was not a “compellable witness”.
“The application is hereby denied and accordingly dismissed,” the trial judge held.
Justice Banjoko while adjourning to March 16, 2017 “for defence to continue”, however acceded to the request of the defence to recall Sunday for “further cross-examination in the interest of justice” and because he still resides in the “territorial jurisdiction of Nigeria”.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it has arrested suspects vandalising its facilities along the Nkalagu–Abakaliki 132kV single circuit transmission line in Ebonyi State.
Its General Manager for Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja, stated that preliminary investigations at the scene established that structural tower members valued at ‘billions of naira’ were removed and sold to illicit scrap metal dealers.
The TCN said that the suspects were indigenes of the Ezza Umuhuali Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, stressing that they were apprehended by local youths and members of a vigilante group acting on a tip-off.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to inform the general public that two suspects were arrested in connection with the vandalism of Towers T15, T16, and T17 along the Nkalagu–Abakaliki 132kV Single Circuit Transmission Line. The arrests were made on May 9, 2026.
“The suspects are both indigenes of the Ezza Umuhuali Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. They were apprehended by local youths and members of a vigilante group acting on a tip-off.
“Preliminary investigations at the scene established that structural tower members valued at billions of naira were systematically removed from the affected towers and allegedly sold to illicit scrap metal dealers. Further investigations revealed that the criminal activity had been ongoing from January 2026 until the suspects’ apprehension,” the TCN stated.
The suspects, it explained, were subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) at Ishielu Police Station, Ntezi, and have since been formally charged before the Ebonyi State High Court.
It added that while the two principal suspects are currently in custody, investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend remaining accomplices believed to still be at large.
“TCN strongly condemns this act of economic sabotage, which not only constitutes a grievous assault on national infrastructure but also undermines the stability of electricity supply to Ebonyi State and surrounding communities.
“We commend the vigilance and swift action of the Ezza Umuhuali youths and vigilante group in bringing these suspects to justice. TCN further urges host communities across the country to remain alert and to promptly report any suspicious activity around high-voltage transmission installations to the nearest security agency or TCN office,” the company noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Dangote Industries Limited has commenced the initial process towards the execution of the multi‑billion-dollar maritime and industrial infrastructure project in Ogun State.
The company wants to make the Olokola Deep Seaport plan a reality. It will be on over 10,000 hectares in the Olokola Free Trade Zone, spanning the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, extending eastward to the borders of the Ilaje Local Government in Ondo State along the Atlantic coastline (Gulf of Guinea).
It was gathered that the organisation has received the buy-in of host communities,
who are eager to see the project come to fruition in record time.
The project is a calculated business plan to expand into logistics, maritime infrastructure, and export-led industrialization as the Group inches toward becoming a $100 billion annual revenue business; rank among the top 100 companies globally and evolve from a regional giant into a globally recognized manufacturing and business leader transforming Africa’s industrial landscape within the next five years.
Leading a team of the management of the company to the area, the Managing Director for Infrastructure and Logistics at Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Jamil Abubakar, told the excited community leaders that the project, when completed, would transform the area and place the communities on a global pedestal.
According to him, the deep-sea port is a logistics gateway for an integrated industrial ecosystem that will strengthen Africa’s maritime trade capacity and enhance Africa’s regional commerce and logistics across the continent, with a corresponding positive impact on the whole of Africa’s development process.
It would be used to facilitate export of fertilisers, petrochemicals, and refined petroleum products; support future Liquefied Natural Gas exports and enable import of heavy equipment and industrial inputs.
“The Olokola Port project is a major step in opening up Nigeria’s economic potential, strengthening trade, reducing pressure on existing ports and supporting industrial growth.
“It will create real opportunities for host communities through jobs, business activities and long-term developments across both Ogun and Ondo states. With its strategic location, Olokola would serve as a key gateway for exports and imports, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.
“This project reflects our commitment to building infrastructure that benefits both the people and the economy at large,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nasarawa State government has ordered the immediate suspension of mining activities at Endo community in Udege, directing Lideal Mining Company to stop operations and vacate the site without delay.
The government also ordered an immediate halt to the movement of raw minerals from the location, tightening restrictions around the disputed mining area.
The latest intervention by the state government signals a tougher stance on mining operations considered capable of threatening public order or operating outside established procedures.
Announcing the decision in Lafia, the state capital, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Margaret Elayo, said the action followed a series of consultations, stakeholder engagements and security assessments linked to activities within the affected mining cadastral unit.
She said the directive was issued in the public interest as part of efforts to maintain order, protect host communities and strengthen regulatory compliance in the state’s mining sector.
According to the commissioner, the company has been instructed to begin the immediate withdrawal of its mining equipment, heavy machinery, trucks, operational facilities and personnel from the site.
Mrs Elayo said the move aligns with the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, which has repeatedly pledged to enforce lawful mining practices, preserve peace in mining communities and build investor confidence through transparent regulatory processes.
She stressed that the government’s decision forms part of a broader plan to reposition the mining sector and ensure that mineral development does not undermine security, environmental standards or community stability.
To enforce compliance, the state government has directed the deployment of security personnel to the affected mining site to prevent unauthorised activities and ensure full adherence to the suspension order.
Nasarawa remains one of Nigeria’s key solid minerals states, attracting growing interest from mining investors because it contains lithium, tin, columbite and other strategic minerals.
However, increased mining activity has also heightened concerns around regulation, community disputes, environmental protection and security management.
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