Former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame have been released from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.

The Nigerian Correctional Service spokesman in the FCT, Chukwuedo Humphrey, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja.

Three other persons whose identities were not disclosed were also released.

Mr Humphrey said that the letter of their release was sent to the command by the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee on Monday.

The two former governors who were serving jail terms for multibillion-naira fraud during their tenures were pardoned on ill health and age grounds and were released immediately, the spokesman said.

“We have no right to hold them further as soon as we have the letter of clemency from the presidency.

“If we do, it will be against their fundamental human rights.

“They have left the facility today. We got the warrant of release today and have done the needful.

“Dariye and Nyame were in Kuje custodial centre while the three others were in Suleja custodial centre,” he said.

The ex-governors were among the 159 prisoners pardoned by the Council of State during a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on April 14.

Mr Nyame, 66, ex-governor of Taraba from 1999 to 2007, was serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison over misappropriation of funds while he was in office.

Mr Dariye, 64, who governed Plateau between 1999 and 2007, was also jailed for corruption during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.

(NAN)