The former governor of Plateau State, Sen. Joshua Dariye, and ex-governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who were jailed for corruption, have been released from prison.

The release of the former governors was confirmed by the FCT spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Chukwuedo Humphrey, on Monday.

It was gathered that the former governors were released alongside three others.

Humphrey said the letter of their release was sent to the command by the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee on Monday.

He said the two former governors were pardoned on ill health and age grounds and were released immediately, but did not disclose the names of the three others

“We have no right to hold them further as soon as we have the letter of clemency from the presidency.

“If we do, it will be against their fundamental human rights.

“They have left the facility today. We got the warrant of release today and have done the needful.

“Dariye and Nyame were in Kuje custodial centre while the three others were in Suleja custodial centre,” he said.

Jolly Nyame, 66, ex-governor of Taraba from 1999 to 2007, was serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison over misappropriation of funds while he was in office.

Dariye, 64, who governed Plateau between 1999 and 2007, was also jailed for corruption during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.

Dariye and Nyame were jailed for stealing N1.16 billion and N1.6 billion, respectively during their tenure as governor.

It would be recalled that the National Council of State at a meeting on April 14, 2022, endorsed the pardon of the former governors and 157 others serving jail terms following the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The development, however, elicited criticism from Nigerians.

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Reacting to the development, the Presidency, in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari only exercised his constitutional mandate in the pardon granted to the former governors.

The presidential spokesman attributed the clemency and or pardon granted to Governors Dariye, Nyame; John Joshua Uloh, Engr. Umar Bamalli, Sa’adu Ayinla Alanamu, Charles Ihenatu, Akinwumi Ajayi, and tens of others making the approved list of 159 to life-threatening ill-health.

He said some of the convicts or ex-convicts have shown remorse and were of good conduct or plainly on the basis of compassion among other stated criteria.

Shehu said President Buhari would have been labelled insensitive and cruel if he had ignored the very compelling cases recommended for pardon made to him.

He said the action has not in any way derailed the anti-corruption fight of the government.

The Star