Ex-Taraba Governor, Jolly Nyame, 158 Others Receive Presidential Pardon

A former Taraba State Governor, Rev Jolly Nyame and 158 others have received a presidential pardon from the National Council of State.

Naija News reports that Nyame, who governed the state from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison for misappropriation of funds while he was in office.

In February 2020, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction and 12-year jail term given to Nyame for misappropriation of funds during his time in power.

It was learned that the Council of State approved the release of the detainees during its meeting which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

This newspaper gathered that 159 persons out of 162 are to be granted various levels of pardon by President Buhari.

The council has written to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to order the release of the former governor from prison.

Addressing journalists after the meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the council approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional facilities nationwide.

According to Malami, the council rejected a proposal to grant pardon to one of the prisoners sentenced to 120 years for theft of over N25bn. The pardon, he said, was sought on health grounds.

Though the AGF kept mum over the identity of the prisoner in question, a top presidency source identified a former Managing Director of Platinum Habib Bank, Francis Atuche, as one of the people not fortunate to be pardoned.