The National Council of State headed by President Goodluck Jonathan has granted a state pardon to the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha.
While he was the state governor, Alamieyeseigha embezzled the state funds, a crime which he was convicted for. In July 2007, he pleaded guilty to a six- count corruption charge before a Nigerian court and was sentenced to two years in prison on each count. He also once jumped bail in the UK in December 2005 and absconded by allegedly disguising as a woman. He was also charged with money laundering when the London Metropolitan Police found about N253 million in cash in his London home. He is still a wanted man in the UK.
