Former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye and an ex-governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame have been released by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Thelagostimes recalls that the duo were serving jail terms for corruption allegations until they were granted a presidential pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari a few months ago.
The Federal Capital Territory Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Chukwuedo Humphrey, confirmed their release to Punch in a telephone interview, adding that three other inmates who were also beneficiaries of the presidential pardon had also been released.
Recall that the former governors were convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal High Court, Abuja in 2018.
Dariye was convicted of stealing N1.16 billion while serving as Plateau governor from 1999 to 2007 and 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.
Nyame, who was Taraba governor from 1999 to 2007, was also convicted of stealing N1.6 billion from the state’s treasury and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.