Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja on
The Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit has succeeded in securing the return of N50 million to the Federal Government, following a successful confiscation hearing against a convict, said to be the mistress of former Plateau governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, on April 4.
••• Confiscated from Gov Dariye's alleged mistress
The Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit has succeeded in securing the return of N50 million to the Federal Government, following a successful confiscation hearing against a convict, said to be the mistress of former Plateau governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, on April 4.
Joyce Bamidele Oyebanjo, a housing tenancy manager, from Teresa Gardens, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was sentenced on April 4, to three years imprisonment, at Southwark Crown Court, having been found guilty of laundering £1.4million stolen from government funds.
A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja, which was signed by Graeme Bannatyne, the Press Officer, said Ms Oyebanjo's conviction followed a joint investigation by the Metropolitan Police and Nigerian law enforcement agencies into the activities of Governor Dariye.
Said detective Sergeant Mark Radford of the Met's Proceeds of Corruption Unit: "A further hearing on the 4th of June has resulted in a confiscation order of £198,045.00. Ms Oyebanjo must pay the order by 04/06/2008 or she will receive a further two and half years imprisonment, in addition to the sentence she received for money laundering. The whole sum is to be paid to Federal Republic of Nigeria in compensation.
"We are delighted that we will be able to return this money to the people of Nigeria. The Met police continue to work to target these people who fraudulently obtain money and are grateful for the continued co-operation and support of the Nigerian authorities in these investigations."