Francis Atuche’s case in abeyance
The national council of state yesterday approved presidential pardon for the former governor of Plateau State, Mr. Joshua Dariye and his Taraba State counterpart, Rev Jolly Nyame who were convicted and jailed for corruption.
The council, which met for the fourth time under President Muhammadu Buhari, took the decision in exercise of its prerogative of mercy for convicts.
Speaking after the meeting held at the presidential villa, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami said the council of state approved 159 of 162 applications presented for consideration.
Among the other beneficiaries were a former military general and minister under the Sani Abacha regime, Tajudeen Olanrewaju, an army lieutenant colonel, Akiyode, who was an aide of former deputy to General Abacha, Oladipo Diya; and all the junior officers jailed over the 1990 abortive Gideon Orkar coup.
According to a source, the two former governors were pardoned on health and age grounds.
“Both Dariye and Nyame were granted freedom based on the conditions for prerogative of mercy in Section 175(1-3) of the 1999 Constitution.
“We went through the applications of AGF Malami and we found merit in his recommendations,” a source said.
Dariye, who has been in and out of hospital, suffered emotional challenges after his father, Dariye Dafwan, was killed in June 2020 after payment of N10 million ransom to kidnappers.
He was sentenced in June 2018 to 14 years by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
In November 2018, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to 10 years, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in March 2021.
Nyame, 66, governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007, was serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison for misappropriation of funds while he was in office.
The Supreme Court upheld his conviction in February 2020.
Malami also said the council rejected the proposal to pardon one of the prisoners sentenced to 120 years for stealing over N25 billion.
The reason for seeking the pardon was because of life threatening illness.
Although Malami did not name the convict, a source privy to the meeting, mentioned the former managing director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche.
The second person was convicted for forgery and sentenced to 14 years. He has stayed in prison for a year and six months.
The third person obtained money by false pretence and was sentenced for seven years.
The Council also approved the proposal to give national awards to 434 Nigerians, as presented by minister for special duties, Mr. George Akume.
The meeting observed a minute silence in honor of former Head of Interim National Government Ernest Shonekan, who died on January 11.
The council of state met under Buhari on October 21, 2015, September 7, 2016, and August 2020 before yesterday’s meeting.
The council is a body charged with responsibility of advising the president on crucial national issues.
Members of the body include: president, vice president, past presidents, senate president, house of representatives speaker, chief justice of Nigeria, serving and past.
Others are attorney general of the federation, governors and the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Those who attended the Thursday meeting were the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, and chief of staff to the president Prof. Ibarahim Gambari.
Former heads of state in attendance were Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan also attended.
Others attended the meeting virtually from their locations.
State governors in attendance were Messrs Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), among others. Other governors attended virtually.
