Discovered Errors May Force FG To Review Pardon List

Barring any last minute changes, the Federal Government may review the list of of those pardoned alongside ex-Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha following alleged discovery of errors. The full list of the beneficiaries will be unveiled in a gazette to be released soon by the government. The gazette will also determine those who will eventually benefit from the entitlements that would be paid by the military or relevant government agencies. It would be recalled that the Council of State had on March 12, 2013 pardoned Alamieyeseigha alongside a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, the late Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and some military officers implicated in the 1995 and 1997 military coups against the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. Others on the pardon list are a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya; a former Minister of Communications, Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju; a former Minister of Works, the late Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa; a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the North, Alhaji Shettima Bulama; Dr. Chichi Ashwe and ex-Army Major, Bello Magaji, among others. The amnesty was granted by President Goodluck Jonathan in line with the powers conferred on him by Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution. Although the presidency has jealously guarded the list of the recipients under wraps, findings revealed that some errors had been noticed particularly the inclusion of ex-Major Bello Magaji, who was convicted and sentenced to five years jail term for sodomy by a military court (General Court Martial) in 1996. It was however learnt that the errors might be reviewed in the enabling gazette which will contain the full list of beneficiaries.