Former Chief of General Staff, Major General Oladipo Diya (rtd) and Former Chief of Staff Supreme Military Council, and brother of the late President, Major General Shehu Musa Yar'adua (Post Humous) received a State Pardon from the National Council of State, this afternoon, a source who attended the meeting has revealed to NaijaPundit.
Also pardoned were ex-Major Bello Magaji NA/6604, Mohammed Lima Biu, Shettima Bulama (of Bank of the North fame), Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, Major General Abdulkareem Adisa (Post Humous) and former Major Segun Fadipe.
Our source revealed to us that the Council of State, which is composed of the President, Vice President, all state governors, former Presidents, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Senate President and Speaker, amongst others, unanimously approved the list of those pardoned today.
The Council of State meeting however was not without its drama as another list which had over 30 names some of whom were awaiting trial was smuggled in for discussion. The Council however rejected the list and asked that it be sent back to the duo of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Minister of the Interior. It was argued by some members that the people on the smuggled list apart from awaiting trial were also persons whose cases had little or nothing to do with the federal government and since they were state cases the matter was best dealt with at the state level in keeping with the principles of True Federalism.
Sources told us that the unjust trial and conviction of Diya and Yar'adua was the basis of their pardon while Alamieyeseigha was considered because apart from serving his sentence he has devoted his life to travelling amongst Niger Delta communities facilitating the peace.
The Council of State meeting however was not without its drama as another list which had over 30 names some of whom were awaiting trial was smuggled in for discussion. The Council however rejected the list and asked that it be sent back to the duo of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Minister of the Interior. It was argued by some members that the people on the smuggled list apart from awaiting trial were also persons whose cases had little or nothing to do with the federal government and since they were state cases the matter was best dealt with at the state level in keeping with the principles of True Federalism.
Sources told us that the unjust trial and conviction of Diya and Yar'adua was the basis of their pardon while Alamieyeseigha was considered because apart from serving his sentence he has devoted his life to travelling amongst Niger Delta communities facilitating the peace.
-culled from Naija pundit
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