US condemns pardon for Alamieyeseigha, others

By The Citizen

United States of America yesterday joined the league of those opposed to the Federal Government's state pardon granted the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha and eight others.

The US Embassy in Nigeria made the country's position on Alamiesiegha's pardon known on Twitter in Lagos yesterday, describing it as a setback to the fight against graft in the country.

'We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption,' Embassy spokeswoman Deb MacLean said.

The Associated Press, which reported the position of the US on Alamieyesiegha's state pardon stated, ''The United States has criticized Nigeria for issuing a pardon to a former governor convicted of corruption who is a political confidant of the nation's president.

In messages Friday on Twitter, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said it was deeply disappointed over the pardon issued this week of former Bayelsa state Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached and later convicted in Nigeria. Investigators said he likely stole millions of dollars while in office. We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption. Embassy spokeswoman Deb MacLean said that officials had no further immediate comment. Nigeria is a top U.S. crude oil supplier.''