Implications Of Dariye, Nyame’s Presidential Pardon – EFCC Prosecutor | READ DETAILS
Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has stated that the presidential pardon granted to former governors; Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), has rubbished the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.
Jacobs is the prosecutor who handled the money laundering cases of the former governors; on behalf of the Economic Crimes and Financial crimes Commission(EFCC).
All Facts Newspaper had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the pardon of Dariye and Nyame on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at the Council of State meeting held at the presidential villa, Abuja. READ HERE
Speaking to PUNCH on the presidential pardon granted the duo who were convicted for stealing public funds to the tune of N1.6bn and 1.162bn respectively, Jacobs expressed disappointment over the decision.
The EFCC is said to have spent 11 years and millions, in the duo’s investigations and prosecution which lasted to the Supreme Court level.
According to Jacob, their pardon and release entails that they can vie for any elective position in the country.
The EFCC prosecutor said;
“This pardon means that they can hold offices and run for elections. It has turned the anti-corruption war into a joke. It is a setback against the fight against corruption. They are setting a bad example for the younger generation. This case went from the High Court to the Supreme Court and now the convicts are being pardoned.
“It will demoralize the judges, the investigators and the prosecutors. It sends a bad message to the youth and Nigerians as a whole.”
On the other hand, Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), reacted;
“They are pardoning themselves now. The same man, who said he came to fight corruption, has been granting pardon to people who were convicted for stealing billions of naira. My reaction is that all criminals and petty thieves should be released since Section 17 of the Constitution says there shall be equal right for all citizens and Section 42 says there shall be no discrimination on the basis of class, gender or whatever.”
“The rulers are interested in continuity – continuity of injustice and corruption. A Nigerian was jailed for stealing noodles in Abuja, he was not granted state pardon. If you want to pardon your friends, you must extend that pardon to other people in the spirit of equity and fairness” Falana said at a book presentation.
