The Council of State on Thursday authorized the pardon of 159 convicts, including Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and ex-Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were both imprisoned for stealing N1.16 billion and N1.6 billion respectively, IgbereTV reports
The Plateau Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjang, confirmed Dariye’s pardon and declared that the ex-governor had been given a second chance.
He added “Every Plateau man is happy about it and we give kudos to the President for honouring us in this manner. We want to also thank whoever that has a hand in making it happen because everybody makes mistakes and you can make errors while in governance.
“As of today, he (Dariye) has been given a reprieve as if nothing has happened and that is the spirit we have to imbibe as a people that when we make mistakes, we have to forgive because nobody is above error.”
Mr. Christopher John, Dariye’s spokesman, also confirmed Dariye’s and Nyame’s pardons.
The fact that the ex-governors were members of the APC had no bearing on their pardon, according to John.
He stated that both individuals were wrongfully convicted and that their pardon was a vindication of their innocence.
