The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has released former Plateau and Taraba States governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame from prison.
KEMI FILANI NEWS recalls that both former governors were granted a presidential pardon by the Council of State, led by President Buhari, on April 14, a development that received a lot of negative reactions.
Dariye and Nyame were convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Abuja High Court in 2018 for stealing N1.16bn and N1.6bn, respectively.
Dariye, Plateau Governor from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 14 years in prison but was later reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, while the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction.
While Rev Nyame, Taraba Governor from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 12 years for stealing N1.6bn from the state’s treasury. The Supreme Court also upheld the judgment.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, explained that the council approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional facilities nationwide.
