Ex-Govs.Dariye and Nyame
Four months after pardon, ex-Govs. Dariye, Nyame regain freedom
Nearly four months after they were granted their freedom by the National Council of State, in April, two former governors of Taraba and Plateau states, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, respectively, have been freed.
The two ex-governors were among the 159 prisoners pardoned during a Council of State meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on April 14.
Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command released the two men, in addition to three others from its custodial centres.
Public Relations Officer, FCT command, Mr Chukwuedo Humphrey, who disclosed this, Monday in Abuja, said the letter for their release was sent to the command by the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee, Monday.
Rev. 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 state funds while in office, Mr Joshua Dariye, 64, who governed Plateau between 1999 and 2007, was also serving time after conviction for corruption during his tenure as Plateau State governor between 1999 and 2007.
Humphrey also disclosed that the two former governors were pardoned on grounds of ill-health and age and were released immediately, even as he did not disclose names of the three other freed prisoners.
“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.
