The former governors regained freedom barely three months after been granted a presidential pardon alongside over 100 others across the country.

Nyame and Dariye were released on Monday from the correctional facility about 5pm to the hands of relatives, politicians and business associates already waiting outside the prison in Abuja.

While Nyame was sentenced for 12 years for diverting N1.64 billion during his tenure as governor of Taraba, Dariye was sentenced for 10 years’ imprisonment for N1.126 billion fraud.

The two former governors were convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Abuja High Court in 2018 after their lawyers could not prove beyond reasonable doubts reasons they should not be sentenced by the court.

Banjoko sentenced Dariye, who was Plateau Governor from 1999 to 2007, to 14 years jail terms. But his term was eventually reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, while his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Nyame, who was Taraba Governor from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 12 years in imprisonment for stealing N1.6 billion from the state’s treasury and his judgment was also upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who addressed journalists after the Council of State meeting, noted that the council approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional facilities nationwide.