Joshua Chibi Dariye was born on 27 July 1957 in Horop Village, Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. He hailed from a humble background in the rocky heartland of the state and grew up at a time when education was emerging as a key route to upward mobility. Dariye attended Mushere Primary School and later continued at Government College, Keffi, in the present-day Nasarawa State.
His academic ambitions led him to the University of Jos, where he earned a degree in Geography. Before entering politics, he built a career in the private sector and worked briefly with the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry. This early experience would later influence his approach to governance, particularly his emphasis on economic initiatives when he became a public servant.
Political Rise and the Plateau Governorship
When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 after years of military dictatorship, Joshua Dariye emerged as one of the country’s pioneering civilian governors. He contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was elected Governor of Plateau State. He was re-elected for a second term in 2003, consolidating his influence in the region.
EXPLORE NOW: Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
Dariye’s early years in office were marked by ambitious infrastructural projects and public engagement. He positioned himself as a “people’s governor,” initiating rural development schemes and projects aimed at improving access to education and health services. His charisma and connection with grassroots communities made him one of the most visible state leaders in northern Nigeria at the time.
However, Dariye’s administration was not without turmoil. Political tension in Plateau State escalated during his tenure, and his relationship with the state’s legislature grew increasingly strained. In November 2006, he was impeached by the state House of Assembly under controversial circumstances. The decision was later overturned, and he was reinstated in April 2007 to complete his second term.
The London Arrest and Early Corruption Allegations
Dariye’s troubles extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. In 2004, he was arrested in London by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of money laundering after large sums of cash were allegedly traced to him. The United Kingdom’s authorities confiscated £80,000 in cash found in his hotel room and investigated additional funds linked to his accounts. This marked one of the earliest international money-laundering cases involving a Nigerian governor.
Although he skipped bail and fled back to Nigeria, the incident deeply affected his credibility. It also drew international attention to corruption within Nigeria’s political elite, becoming one of the defining cases that influenced later anti-corruption campaigns.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentencing
Years after leaving office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Joshua Dariye with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. The allegations centred on the diversion of ₦1.126 billion from the state’s ecological fund, money that had been allocated to address environmental challenges in Plateau State.
In June 2018, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja found Dariye guilty on 15 out of 23 counts. Justice Adebukola Banjoko sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for criminal breach of trust and two years for misappropriation, to run concurrently.
Dariye’s conviction marked a watershed moment for Nigeria’s judiciary and anti-corruption agencies, as he became one of the first former governors to be successfully prosecuted and jailed for corruption. His lawyers filed an appeal, arguing procedural irregularities and political bias, but the Court of Appeal in 2018 upheld the conviction while reducing the sentence to 10 years.
In March 2021, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the conviction and the 10-year sentence, putting an end to all legal appeals.
Asset Forfeiture and Public Response
The conviction was followed by additional financial consequences. In March 2022, a Federal High Court ordered the forfeiture of Dariye’s Abuja mansion to the Federal Government. The property had been traced to illicit funds linked to his time as governor. The judgment reinforced the growing willingness of Nigerian courts to go beyond imprisonment by recovering assets derived from corruption.
Public reaction was mixed. While anti-corruption advocates praised the judiciary for setting a precedent, Dariye’s supporters viewed the sentence as politically motivated. In Plateau State, where he still commanded local respect, many believed he was being targeted by political adversaries.
The Presidential Pardon and Release
In a move that reignited national debate, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration granted a presidential pardon to Joshua Dariye in April 2022. The decision, approved by the Nigerian Council of State, covered 159 convicts, including two former governors—Dariye of Plateau State and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State.
The Federal Government cited age, health conditions, and good conduct as justifications for the clemency. Dariye was officially released from Kuje Correctional Centre in August 2022 after serving nearly four years of his sentence.
READ MORE: Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
The pardon was controversial. Civil society groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), condemned the decision, arguing that it undermined Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and sent the wrong signal to public officials. Nonetheless, Dariye maintained that his conviction had been politically motivated, insisting that his conscience was clear.
Life After Prison
Following his release, Dariye expressed gratitude for his freedom but lamented the conditions of Nigeria’s prisons, describing them as “barely habitable.” He also stated that freedom was “priceless” and reflected on the lessons learned from his incarceration.
Although rumours occasionally surface about his possible return to politics, there is currently no confirmed evidence of him seeking elective office since his release. His long career, however, remains a touchstone for discussions about accountability and redemption in Nigerian public life.
Legacy and Public Perception
Joshua Chibi Dariye’s story illustrates both the promise and the pitfalls of Nigerian democracy. As a two-term governor during the country’s democratic rebirth, he represented hope and grassroots connection. Yet, his downfall, conviction, and later pardon reveal the complexities of justice and political influence in Nigeria.
To some, he remains a symbol of unfulfilled leadership potential. To others, he embodies the persistence of political survival in a system where influence often outlasts accountability. His career serves as both an inspiration and a warning: leadership without transparency can elevate and destroy in equal measure.
Author’s Note
Joshua Chibi Dariye’s rise, conviction, and pardon offer a vivid lesson on the fragile balance between power and accountability in Nigerian politics. His journey from rural beginnings to the governorship, imprisonment, and eventual release reflects the challenges of maintaining integrity amid political ambition.
References
Channels TV (2021). Supreme Court Affirms 10-Year Conviction of Ex-Plateau Governor Dariye
Premium Times Nigeria (2022). Buhari Pardons Ex-Governors Dariye, Nyame Serving Jail Terms for Corruption.Punch Newspaper (2022). Court Orders Forfeiture of Dariye’s Abuja Mansion to FG.
