Friday, March 15, 2013

Withdraw Alams’ state pardon in national interest - NLC

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday expressed sadness at the state pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, Mr Shetima Bulama, and asked President Jonathan to withdraw the state pardon to the two beneficiaries.
The congress said in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, yesterday, that it was totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest were granted state pardon.
In a statement titled: “Withdraw State Pardon In National Interest,” the NLC said: “We are alarmed by the decision of the National Council of State to pardon Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who was impeached as governor of Bayelsa State and eventually convicted by a properly constituted court for stealing public funds; and Mr Shetima Bulama, a former managing director of Bank of the North, who was also convicted for misappropriating the bank’s funds.
“While we appreciate that the Council of State does have a constitutional responsibility to pardon citizens who have obviously been convicted or punished in the past for offences, it is totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest be granted state pardon.
“We still wonder what message the National Council of State is sending to Nigerians if at the height of unprecedented corruption in the country those who have been prosecuted and jailed for stealing public money are granted state pardon.
“The congress finds it incongruous the state pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha and Mr Bulama.
“While like other citizens they may be entitled to state pardon, congress believes that the crimes committed are too weighty for state pardon.”

“It is our view that state pardon remains an act of mercy or reprieve dispassionately exercised or granted by the highest authority in the land for and on behalf of the government and people,  and it should be a last act of mercy sparingly exercised for the good of the nation. State pardon is recognised across the world not for its own sake but for its potential and capacity for redressing judicial guilt, rewarding penitence, or for initiating reconciliation, and in some instances, for ensuring restoration, but never losing sight of national interest.”
Transparency International wants Jonathan to rescind decision
By Tunde Ogunesan
THE global anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind the pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted for money laundering and other serious corruption offences in 2007.
In a press statement from the Manager, Media and Public Relations, Chris Sanders, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, the body frowned at the decision that may qualify Alamieyeseigha to stand for public office again.
The vice-chair of Transparency International,  Akere Muna said, “This decision undermines anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria and encourages impunity. If the government is serious about uprooting public corruption, sanctions against those who betray the public trust should be strengthened, not relaxed.”
The release further stated that “President Jonathan should show that he is committed to fighting corruption and endorse the efforts of law enforcement agencies to end impunity for corrupt officials.”
One of the highlight of the organisation’s disposition to the pardon is the fact that “Nigeria was ranked 139 out of 174 countries in the 2012 Corruptions Perceptions Index.
FG has legalised ‘official corruption’ - ActivistEbenezer Adurokiya -Warri

THE Federal Government has been accused of tacitly legalising what has been termed “official corruption” in the country by granting state pardon to former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyeseigha just as it was commended for granting pardon to Major General Shehu Yar’Adua and Lt General Oladapo Diya among others, over a phantom coup by the General Sanni Abacha-led junta.
Human Rights activist and National Coordinator of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD), Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, made this known in a press statement made available to journalists in Warri Delta State, on Thursday.
He averred that no nation aspiring for greatness would so easily pardon a man who wantonly impoverished a state by looting public funds at the expense of the citizenry.
“Any nation of the world that is aspiring to be great cannot afford to legalise official corruption the way the Nigerian government has tacitly done by granting pardon to a man who impoverished his state as a governor by looting public funds and amassing illicit wealth and properties, thereby mortgaging the lives and destiny of citizens of the state he swore to protect,” Ikimi stated.



Kwara gov okays decisionBiola Azeez - Ilorin

GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Council of State for granting posthumous pardon to late General Abdulkareem Adisa.
The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said the gesture of President Jonathan and other members of the Council of State was a welcome development.
Governor Ahmed recalled that it was particularly noteworthy that the Council of State took cognisance of the worthy contribution of the late General Adisa and others to the process of nation building and national cohesion.
The governor, who noted that President Jonathan’s gesture was a demonstration of huge capacity to heal wounds, correct some misgivings, also urged the President and Council of State to extend such pardons to others who may be well deserving of such.
NSG scribe justifies pardonBy Bola Badmus - Lagos

NATIONAL Summit Group (NSG) on Thursday justified the state pardon to  former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Executive Secretary of the group, Mr Tony Uranta, justified the state pardon to the former governor while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
Uranta argued that Alamieyeseigha deserved the state pardon granted to him by the National Council of State because of his role in ensuring peace and progress in the Niger Delta region.
The National Council of State had on March 12, 2013 granted  state pardon to Alamieyeseigha, and seven others.
The executive secretary reiterated that the pardon was in tandem with practices all over the world.
“The United States of America during the tenure of Bill Clinton granted state pardon to his brother who was involved in drug trafficking,” he said.
“This notwithstanding, Alamieyeseigha played great roles in bringing the Niger Delta insurgency to an end.
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