US Describes Alam’s Pardon As Set-Back For Fight Against Corruption

The US government has explained why it reacted to the presidential pardon granted to certain individuals by President Goodluck Jonathan.

During an interview with Channels TV, the US Information Officer; Deborah MacLean said the US was disappointed that Nigeria had not followed through with its fight against corruption, on the matter.

Stating that ‘actions speak louder than voice’, the US official stated that the Jonathan administration’s clamour that the fight against corruption was part of its achievement with the transformation agenda is all just talk and no action.

She also notes that the action has sent mixed signals to the rest of the world.

The President recently had granted state pardon to the former convicted Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and four others with the consent of the National Council of States. This drew the err of the US Embassy in Abuja and official of the embassy expressed the displeasure of the US government on Twitter.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned the spokeswoman of the United States of America Embassy, Ms MacLean to protest a statement credited to Deb MacLean on the Embassy’s Twitter account stating that it is ‘‘deeply disappointed’’ over the pardon granted to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The foreign Ministry pointed out that this was not the first time the Nigerian government or elsewhere would grant state pardon to individuals who have committed one crime or the other and that the pardon granted is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The other pardoned ex-convicts include: Oladipo Diya, Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu, Major General Abdulkareem Adisa (Post Humous), Major Segun Fadipe and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.