REHABILITATION OF ALAMASEIGHA BY JONATHAN NEARS COMPLETION : Alamieyeseigha, Diya, Yar'Adua, others Get State Pardon

The former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Deprieiye
Alamieyeseigha, and the former Chief of General Staff, General
Oladipo Diya are among those pardoned on Tuesday by the council
of state at the State House, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan had recommended to the council that
Alamieyeseigha and those convicted in Abacha’s 1995 phantom
coup be pardoned.

Others who received pardon were former Chief of General Staff,
Supreme Military Council, Late Major-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua;
Major Bello Magaji; Mohammed Lima Biu; Shettima Bulama; Late Major-Gen Abdulkareem Adisa and Major Segun Fadipe.

With the pardon, it means they would no longer be referred to as ex-
convicts.

Four former heads of state --- Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim
Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari and Abdusalami Abubakar, were
absent at the meeting presided over by President Goodluck
Jonathan.

While Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest
Shoneka, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Senate President, David
Mark, and Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal were in attendance.

Meanwhile, a popular Lagos Lawyer Mr Babatunde Aturu has kicked
against the pardon of Mr Alamieseigha saying it shows that
government is not serious in its fight against corruption.

“I have just learnt from very credible and knowledgeable sources
that the Council of State has been requested by the President to
grant pardon to some convicts, including Mr. Diepreye
Alamieseigha, who was convicted for acts of corruption perpetrated
while in office.

"One cannot put such unthinkable gambit beyond this government
or our elite, knowing their lack of interest in waging any war against
corruption.” Aturu said in a statement issued in Lagos.