An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness yesterday narrated how former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye’s ownership of a bank account was allegedly used for funds transfers.

Gideon Dashong Dabi, a forensic analyst, testified before an FCT High Court that the ex-governor operated the account of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures Ltd with the All States Trust Bank where millions of naira state funds were lodged between 2001 and 2007.

Led in evidence by Barrister Adebisi Adeniyi, Dabi said the dispute over the ex-governor’s signature on the specimen bank documents labelled X-X4 and his known signatures on other documents labelled A1-A19 made the Economic Governance Unit of the EFCC to refer the matter to the Forensic Unit.

“My lord, among my findings is that the handwriting features noted in the disputed signatures on the documents marked X-X4 were similar to handwriting features in documents marked A-A19,” he said.

However, under cross examination by defence counsel P.S. Kwon (SAN), the witness admitted that the unit did not act on the forensic report between 2007, when the case was referred to it, and December 11, 2015.

He also admitted that the unit was given only one specimen to compare with the disputed signatures on the bank documents.

Also testifying, an EFCC witness, Mohammed Alkali Kwaranga, said the investigating team which visited Plateau State in 2007 discovered that out of several houses linked with the former governor, only a few actually belonged to him.

He said the properties were documented and referred to the forfeiture unit for further investigation.  Dariye is facing a 23 count charge of abuse of office, money laundering, abuse of office and corruption.

According to the EFCC, out of the N1.161 billion allegedly diverted from the state’s Ecological Funds, N180 million was paid into the Ebenezer Retnan’s account while several tranches ranging between N3 million and N15 million were paid into the same account from the office of the Accountant General of the state.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the case to April 19 for continuation of trial.

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Happenings from EFCC’s trial of Dariye on Tuesday 5th April 2016