Buhari takes surprise step of pardoning 159 convicts including two ex-governors jailed for corruption

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has taken the bizarre step of pardoning 159 convicts including two former governors who were convicted for financial malpractices in what appears to be an open negation of his administration's anti-corruption policy.

In 2015, President Buhari was elected with a promise to clean out corruption in Nigeria and four years later, he won a second term on the same mandate. In a surprise development, however, last week, a Council of State meeting chaired by the president opted to release the convicts, including former Plateau state governor, Joshua Dariye and the ex-governor of Taraba State Jolly Nyame.

After being found guilty, governors Dariye and Nyame were both jailed for stealing N1.16bn and N1.6bn, respectively. Both former governors, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, were convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Abuja High Court in 2018.

Governor Dariye, who was Plateau State governor from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. However, his term was eventually reduced to 10 years by the court of appeal in Abuja, while his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Governor Nyame, who ruled Taraba State from 1999 to 2007, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for stealing N1.6bn from the state’s treasury. The judgment was also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Last week, the attorney-general of the federation and justice minister Abubakar Malami, noted that the Council of State approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional facilities nationwide. It is believe that the two governors will be released shortly.