Nigerians jubilate as ex governors Senator Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame leave prison after their presidential pardon

Nigerians jubilate as ex governors Dariye and Nyame leave prison after their presidential pardon 

Former Governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Senator Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, have been released from Kuje correctional facility in Abuja.

The ex-convicts who were serving jail terms for corruption allegations were released on Monday afternoon, August 8, 2022. 

It would be recalled that they were among 159 prisoners pardoned by the National Council of State led by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. 

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. But 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 convicted of stealing N1.6 billion from the state’s treasury and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The judgment was also upheld by the Supreme Court.