By Giwa SHILE
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has
secured no fewer than 312 convictions between January and Dec. 24, 2018.
EFCC’s acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, gave details of the
convictions on Thursday in a statement in Abuja.
According to the statement, the record of convictions is undoubtedly a
significant improvement from the 189 convictions recorded in 2017.
“More significantly is that it includes the conviction of two Politically
Exposed Persons (PEPs) – Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba State and
Joshua Dariye, a serving Senator and a former governor of Plateau State,” he
said.
Nyame and Dariye are currently serving jail terms at Kuje Prison.
According to the statement, Dariye and Nyame, who were sentenced to 14 years in
prison, had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the “guilty” verdict by
Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gudu.
“However, while upholding their convictions, the Appellate Court commuted
Dariye’s jail term to 10 years, and that of Nyame to 12 years with a fine of
N495 million.
“Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Nwobike, who has been
stripped of the highly revered legal title, was also convicted for perverting
the course of justice,” the statement read in part.
Orilade said that with the convictions, the EFCC, led by Mr Ibrahim Magu as
Acting Chairman, had remained consistent in its concerted efforts against
corruption.
“This effort is aimed at ensuring that the negative narrative of pervasive
corruption in the system is changed for the better, and the perception that
some persons are above the Law, is altered.”
Orilade also stated that the record of convictions cut across the various
offices of the EFCC with Lagos securing 85 convictions and Abuja 53,
respectively.
He stated that while Kano office secured 36 convictions; Port Harcourt secured
33; Gombe recorded 28; Benin 27; Enugu 15; Maiduguri 11; Ibadan 10; Uyo eight,
and Kaduna six.
