Former Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye and his Taraba counterpart, Rev Jolly Nyame have regained freedom from Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
They left Kuje Correctional Centre four months after they were granted pardon by the National Council of States with 159 others.
The Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Humphrey Chukwuendo, confirmed their release, saying the duo was released from Kuje while three others were released from Suleja Prison.
He further confirmed that the release was based on Communications sent to the FCT Command from the Federal Government, expressing confidence that other Commands would have received their letters to release those pardoned.
There have been some administrative issues regarding their release since their pardon by the NCS led by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 14, 2022, said a source familiar with the matter.
However as at 11 am, the processes were being documented across the NCoS Commands nationwide preparatory to their release, an official of the NCoS at the headquarters in Abuja said.
Chukwuendo told our Correspondent that Dariye and Nyame were documented Monday morning and they had since left the prison.
INyame was sentenced for 12 years for diverting N1.64 billion during his tenure as Governor of Taraba while Dariye was sentenced for 10 years’ imprisonment for N1.126 billion fraud.
The State pardon granted the former Governors generated some controversies across the country, forcing government to stay action and carry out more consultation on the matter.
Some Nigerians believe that the pardon would erode the commitment of the government in the fight against corruption, while others believe that it would embolden public officials to perpetrate frauds.
Credit : THE NATION.
