Former Plateau State Governor, Senator Joshua Dariye, has petitioned the police, alleging that two men, Emmanuel Odogwu and Franklin Gideon (also known as Kelvin), defrauded him of $290,000 in a luxury wristwatch scam.
In the petition dated November 19, 2024, Dariye accused the suspects of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, obtaining money by false pretence, and fraud.
According to him, he paid the duo the sum of $290,000 for a Polo wristwatch, which they eventually delivered. However, he later discovered the timepiece was counterfeit after verification with Polo Company.
“I humbly request your esteemed office to track and arrest the suspects and help recover the $290,000,” Dariye pleaded in his petition.
Subsequent investigations revealed that one of the suspects was in fact Franklyn Ojo Jatto, who allegedly converted the funds to over ₦250 million. He reportedly used ₦145 million to purchase a property in Abuja and fixed ₦100 million in a deposit account. Police operatives also froze more than 16 bank accounts linked to him.
An affidavit filed in court warned:
“Unless this Honourable Court grants this application, the Respondent may dispose of the property and dissipate the proceeds of crime in the bank.”
Dariye, who once represented Plateau Central in the Senate, had previously been convicted and jailed for diverting ₦1.16 billion ecological funds during his tenure as governor. His conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2021.
