The former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, and a former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame, and two others have been released, released from the correctional facility in Kuje council area, federal capital territory (FCT).
The development comes almost four months after the former governors were granted state pardons.
At a council of state meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in April, Dariye and Nyame were among 159 inmates pardoned.
The two former governors, who were both jailed for fraud, were granted pardon on the grounds of age and ill health
Nyame was convicted in 2018 and given 14 years imprisonment for diverting public funds, but his sentence was later reduced to 12 years in 2020, following a ruling by the supreme court which affirmed the judgment of the court of appeal on the matter.
On his part, Dariye was sentenced to 14 years in prison for N1.126 billion fraud, but his jail term was reduced by four years, following a verdict by the supreme court affirming an earlier judgment by the court of appeal.
Speaking on the release of the former governors, Chukwuedo Humphrey, spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT command, said the development followed a letter received from the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee on Monday.
Humphrey also said three other persons were released, but he did not state their names.
“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 the release today and have done the needful.
“Dariye and Nyame were in Kuje custodial center while the three others were in Suleja custodial center.”
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