EXTRA: Senate paying Dariye’s salary, allowances — despite imprisonment

Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau state, is reportedly still being paid his allowances.

In June, an FCT high court convicted Dariye for laundering public funds to the tune of N1.162bn.

He was subsequently imprisoned for 14 years, although his prison term was later reduced to 10 years by a court of appeal in Abuja.

The senator representing Plateau central district is said to have been paid N85.5 million as salaries and allowances since his conviction.

According to PUNCH, the senator is still receiving the N750, 000 salary and N13.5m monthly running cost from the national assembly “because his seat had yet to be declared vacant by the leadership of the national assembly”.

Christopher John, an aide to Dariye, was quoted as saying his principal is still receiving his full allowances, alongside his aides.

John was quoted as saying Dariye’s case has been appealed at the supreme court and as such the convict “is still a senator”.

“He has already appealed the case; so he is still a senator pending the decision of the supreme court,” he was quoted as saying.

“It is right for us to still be receiving salaries because his case has not ended. There are many other senators having issues with the courts like Senator Attah Idoko from Kogi State. Judgment was given in favour of AVM Isaac Alfa but since Idoko has appealed the case, he is still serving and attending sittings as a senator pending the outcome of the case.

“Aides should still be receiving salary because Dariye is still a senator. And he is still receiving his allowances and will continue to do so until the case is closed.”

Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman to Senate President Bukola Saraki, was also quoted as saying: “We have to receive official communication from those who prosecuted him. We cannot read a report in the newspapers and go ahead to declare his seat vacant.”