The Supreme Court Friday quashed the conviction on criminal misappropriation of funds against former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye.

Galaxy's Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that it is the charge that carries a two-year year jail term, which the Apex Court also set aside, by this judgment.

But the conviction on criminal breach of trust which is the substance of the lawsuit and carries a 10-year jail term is upheld, meaning the former Plateau governor remains in prison.

Justice Helen Ogunwumiju read the judgment prepared by Justice Ejembi Eko on behalf of the five-member panel headed by Justice Mary Odili.

Dariye was, by his appeal, praying the Supreme Court to upturn the November 16, 2018 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years for diverting public funds estimated at N1.162billion while he was the Governor.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Stephen Adah, in its decision, upheld an earlier judgment by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), delivered on June 12, 2018.