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Fraudsters, Drug Dealers: Full List Of 162 Convicts Buhari Pardoned With Dariye, Nyame

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A copy of the 162 convicts recommended for pardon by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative Of Mercy has emerged.

On the list are scores of people convicted for fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, forgery, and stealing.

The pardon had generated controversy because of the inclusion of Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau state, and Jolly Nyame, former governor of Taraba, who had both been convicted for criminal breach of trust relating to corruption charges.

They were both said to be suffering from “life-threatening ailment” and “old age” and a presidential spokesman said it would have been “wicked” of President Muhammadu Buhari not to pardon them.

Buhari had used the jailing of those governors as evidence of his anti-corruption war and his critics believe the pardon unraveled his achievement.

Francis Atuche, former managing director of Bank PHB, and two others were on the list that was presented by Buhari to the Council of State on April 17 but the three did not make the final cut as 159 were pardoned.

Apache was said to have “life-threatening ill health” in the recommendation of the committee but the Council of State advised the president against granting him a pardon.

A common reason advanced for their pardon was “life-threatening ailment” and “old age”.

John Joshua Ullah, a 58-year-old prisoner convicted for defrauding a woman under the pretext of selling land to her in Asokoro, Abuja, was recommended for a pardon based on “old age”.

Sa’Adu Alabama, a former nominee to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) who was convicted for an N182 million fraud, was asked to be pardoned for “being beneficial to the society”.

A 39-year-old woman, Halima Kachalla, who had been convicted for forgery and stealing, was considered “useful to the medical profession” because she is a medical doctor.

Some of the recommendations, however, covered compassionate cases for those considered to be at the lower ladder of society.

Unoka James, sentenced to six years for stealing and forgery, was recommended for pardon for having learned “tailoring” in prison while 34-year-old Adamu Yusuf was said to have learned “barbing”.

Two inmates had already served 12 years imprisonment in Thailand before being convicted again on their return to Nigeria in what could be considered “double jeopardy”, being punished twice for the same offense.

Former coup plotters made the clemency list as well as some military officers who were dismissed for mutiny.

In all, 26 inmates, 85 surviving ex-convicts, and one deceased ex-convict were recommended for a presidential pardon.

For presidential clemency, 27 inmates were on the list, as well as 13 others whose terms of imprisonment were to be reduced.

Of those on death row, 10 of them were to be commuted to life imprisonment.

Below is the full list.

BIG STORY

Security: Army Foils Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Six Victims In Taraba

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Troops from the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke successfully thwarted a “kidnap attempt” and “rescued six victims” along the Wukari-Kente road in the Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The operation, conducted on April 27, 2025, was initiated following “a distress call from the Executive Chairman of Wukari LGA alerting security forces to an attack on travellers in the area.”

“Troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base Wukari were swiftly mobilised to the scene.”

This information was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni.

“Responding swiftly, the troops launched a prompt rescue operation to the area and rescued the victims unhurt,” the statement read.

Upon arriving at the location, “troops found a white Toyota Hilux vehicle with a flat tyre abandoned by the roadside.”

“Shortly after, six individuals emerged from the nearby bush, unharmed, and identified themselves as the occupants of the vehicle,” the army said.

The victims recounted that they “were travelling from Yola to Lafia when gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers or armed robbers, ambushed them from the rear.” They “abandoned their vehicle and fled into the bush for safety.”

After confirming the area was secure, “the soldiers assisted in replacing the damaged tyre and escorted the travellers until they were safely back on their journey.”

Commander of the 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, “lauded the troops for their swift response and professionalism.” He “reiterated the brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Taraba State.”

Brig. Gen. Uwa also “urged residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence.”

“We remain resolute in our mission to ensure peace and security across Taraba State and its environs,” he assured.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: My Defection From PDP Imminent, Governor Eno Declares

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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has “given hint of his possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),” noting that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “was like a spoilt plane and may no longer has the capacity to take him to the next destination from 2027.”

Speaking against the backdrop of recent gale of defections from the PDP with the latest being the Delta State governor Sheriff Oborewori, who moved with several supporters to the APC, Pastor Eno hinted that “the heavily fragmented PDP may soon grind to a halt.”

Addressing a mammoth crowd that thronged the Town Square meeting of the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency on Tuesday at the QIC Central School, Ikot Akpankuk, headquarters of Ukanafun local government area, the governor disclosed that “he might join the fray soon as the crucial 2027 election year inches closer.”

“If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault that won’t enable it to fly, won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?” Eno queried.

However, the governor, who enjoined the people to remain steadfast in support of his administration in its quest to deliver on its campaign promises, doled out empowerment succour to over 400 people, including business grants, cars and other freebies.

154 constituents benefited from the Traders Grant, 116 received Farmers Grant, four got N5 million each for the MSME Grant, and 131 were beneficiaries of the Equipment Support Initiative.

He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the resources at their disposal, warning beneficiaries to desist from deploying it to ponzi schemes or any other unintended purposes.

He said: “We need to meet with the people from time to time to see them. It’s not only during elections that we should come to see our people. We also have to come and see you in the course of governance, to check your wellbeing, to listen to you, tell you what we have done, and what we are planning to do.

This is the fourth federal constituency we have visited, we have six more to go and we will finish all in time for the budget department to capture the needs in the 2026 budget.

“We will go through your requests and tell you the ones we have decided to do, based on available funds. We might not be able to do all, but whatever is left we will add to subsequent budgets.

“We will always work with the people because this government is of the people, for the people, and by the people,” he stated.

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BIG STORY

Court Orders EFCC To Release Aisha Achimugu Within 24 Hours

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Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release socialite and businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, within a 24-hour timeframe.

Justice Ekwo further directed that the involved parties must report back to the court on May 2nd to provide an update on the compliance with his order.

Previously, on Monday, Justice Ekwo had mandated Achimugu to present herself to the anti-graft agency concerning an ongoing investigation related to money laundering and other alleged offenses.

Justice Ekwo also stipulated that following her appearance at the EFCC office, the anti-graft agency was required to return with her to the court on Wednesday, April 30th, for a progress report.

It is worth noting that the EFCC apprehended Achimugu at 5 am on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The EFCC is currently investigating Achimugu regarding allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, money laundering, corruption, and possessing properties reasonably suspected of being unlawfully acquired.

While she had been arrested and interrogated by the EFCC previously, she was granted administrative bail by the commission.

However, the EFCC claimed that she violated her bail conditions and subsequently declared Achimugu wanted.

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