LAGOS — Outrage, yesterday, greeted the rumoured state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and former head, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, by President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigerians described it as a shame and a set back to the fight against corruption in the country.

This came as Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State who spoke in Hausa to some journalists at the end of the closed door meeting of the Council of State said the Council did not discuss the issue of amnesty to adherents of Jama’atul Ahlus Sunnah Lid da’awati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, and other convicts, saying such would have raised political tension in the country.

Others who were rumoured to have also beengranted state pardon include late former Chief of Staff, Supreme Military Council, and brother of the late President, Major -General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya; Major Bello Magaji (rtd); Mohammed Lima Biu; Major-General Abdulkareem Adisa (post humous) and Major Segun Fadipe (rtd).

For more, visit;

.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/rumoured-pardon-for-alams-others-sparks-outrage/

In the words of Nyako himself, see the quote below;

We didn’t discuss issue of state pardon —Nyako

“We didn’t discuss the issue of amnesty to Boko Haram adherents. It could be controversial to raise such issues. What needs to be done is for the matter to be extensively deliberated before a universal decision is brought into public domain,” Governor Nyako said.

He refuted stories making the round that theformer Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was granted state pardon by the Council. Instead, he said the Council deliberated on the possibility of granting state clemency to certain category of offenders both at state and federal levels.
According to him, “no such issue (pardon for erring governors) was discussed. I didn’t see the name of any governor. But we considered the issue of state pardon for people who committed certain offences.

“We observed that in cases of manslaughter, pardon for such should be handled by state governors if they are committed in such states. But if it is the case of armed robbery the Council may decide to grant pardon or the matter could be referred to the President for his consideration.”