Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 7, 2019 to rule on the “no-case” submission filed by Nanle Dariye, son of a former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, who is facing a six-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.5 billion.
Counsel for Dariye, Kanu Agabi, SAN, on February 13, 2019 argued his “no-case” submission via an application dated and filed on December 13, 2018.
In his argument, Agabi told the court that the defence believes that the prosecution had failed to prove the money laundering charges brought against his client, and so urged the court to accordingly dismiss the charges.
Prosecuting counsel, Andrew Akoja, while adopting his written address dated December 14, 2018 which was and filed on December 19, 2018 argued that the prosecution furnished the court with sufficient evidence linking Dariye to the offence of money laundering.
Akoja noted that: “Evidence have already shown that the various transactions were above the threshold limit of N10 million, and this ought to have been reported as required by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, which states that a Designated Non-Financial Institution, DNFI, whose business involves the one of cash transaction shall within three months from the commencement of this Act, submit to the Ministry a declaration of its activities.”
Quoting from the Act, Akoja concluded that Dariye was culpable of money laundering activities.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Ojukwu adjourned to rule on the “no-case” submission.
It will be recalled that the Dariye, who is standing trial along with Apartment le Paradis, a hotel in which he was a director, failed to report a cash transaction of about N1.5 billion which he received through the hotel’s account. The amount was above the threshold of N10 million permissible by law. The hotel was also not registered as a Designated Non-Financial Institution.
