ex-convicts by the National Council of States headed by President
Goodluck Jonathan .
On Tuesday, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye
Alamieyeseigha, the former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima
Bulama and some other Nigerians were granted a presidential pardon.
However, that of Alamieyeseigha and Bulama has caused some uproar
because of their records as ex-convicts.
In reaction to this, the U.S. Mission Nigeria tweeted this yesterday
using the Twitter account @USEmbassyAbuja:
"The #USG is deeply disappointed over the recent pardons of corrupt
officials by the GON. #Nigeria"
"We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption. #Nigeria."
Similarly, the global anti-corruption organisation Transparency
International has called on President Jonathan to rescind the pardon
granted to Alamieyeseigha.
In a press statement made available to Elombah.com , the organisation 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," said Akere Muna, vice-chair of
Transparency International.
"Mr. Alamieyeseigha will now be able to stand for public office again.
"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.
"Nigeria was ranked 139 out of 174 countries in the 2012 Corruptions
Perceptions Index. Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
has prosecuted and convicted a number of high-profile corrupt
individuals since its inception in 2003, but most of them have escaped
effective sanctions."
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan,
Doyin Okupe however disagrees on this.
" It is out of place to suggest that the pardon is tantamount to
abandoning the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This is too far
from the truth, " he said.
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