Former Plateau gov. Dariye gets pardon, freed from jail

Former Plateau governor Joshua Dariye has been pardoned by President Muhammadu Buhari after serving part of his jail term.

The Council of State led by the President Buhari approved the pardon of 159 convicts including Senator Dariye and ex-Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were both imprisoned for stealing N1.16bn and N1.6bn respectively.

Plateau State was agog, yesterday when the news of the release of former Governor Joshua Dariye rented the air.

Some residents, who could not believe the news, went into wild jubilation at the realisation that his release was real.

It was all prayers and praises for President Buhari for his magnanimity in pardoning Dariye, who was sentenced to 10 years on corruption allegations by the Jonah Jang administration that succeeded him.

The former governor could not prove his innocence and was subsequently jailed.