Falana Tackles President Buhari Over Pardon Of Dariye, Nyame

Renowned lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari after he pardoned former Governors of Plateau and Taraba State, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame.

Dariye and Nyume were convicted for corruption and were pardoned alongside 157 others at the Council of State meeting presided over by the president on Thursday, April 14.

Commenting on the pardon during the one-year remembrance programme for the late Publicity Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Yinka Odumakin, Femi Falana said the act is discriminatory.

Falana emphasised that it is wrong to grant a state pardon to the aforementioned former governors who were jailed for looting state funds.

According to the lawyer, the 1999 constitution clearly stipulates the equality of all citizens. He also stated that the state pardon should be extended to all criminals and thieves currently serving jail terms across the country.

"My reaction is that all criminals, all thieves, and criminals in our prisons should be released.

"Because section 17 of the constitution says there shall be equality, equal rights for all citizens and section 42 said there shall be no discrimination on the basis of class, gender, whatever, so you can’t take out two people and leave the rest there. It’s illegal.