STATE PARDON: DIYA, OTHERS TO WAIT

Former chief of general staff Lt-Gen. Oladipo Diya and other top army officers who were convicted for a phantom coup against the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, but were recently granted state pardon may wait longer than expected to get their withheld pensions and gratuities paid.

Authoritative army sources disclosed to LEADERSHIP Sunday that the Nigerian Army was yet to get the go-ahead from the presidency to act on the former military officers’ case.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Council of State had granted state pardon to former chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, the late Maj-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, Lt-Gen. Diya, Maj-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, the late Maj-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, Col. Edwin Jando, Col. Bello Fadile, and former governor of Bayelsa State Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

When the news broke, those that were still alive, aside from Gen. Diya, could not rejoice because they were not sure their names were on the list of the beneficiaries.

As exclusively reported by LEADERSHIP recently, the failure to gazette the proclamation by the presidency had compounded the problem for the ex-military officers.   

At the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, his spokesman, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said, ‘‘Sorry, I don’t have any information on those that were granted state pardon.’’

Our correspondent learnt that the process for the restoration of the beneficiaries’ ranks and payment of their pensions and gratuities is tedious. They would be invited by the army secretary for interview and documentation, the army secretary would issue them a letter and the identity card each, direct the army finance corps to pay them their entitlements, and a few others. But the silence of the army, again, is giving these yesterday’s men cause for concern.

A serving army general explained that the fault lies not with the Nigerian Army but with the presidency which has not documented the Council of State’s order and, according to him, the army could not rely on media reports to implement the directive.

‘‘These people were fine officers which they had served so well, but what happened to them was their punishment by the state; it was a purely political matter and the same state that sentenced them has granted them state pardon, and we are all happy for them.

But there has not been any communication between the presidency and the army. We cannot rely only on media reports to reinstate these fine officers and I am sure they have not received any communication too. Once we are duly communicated about the decision, I can assure you that we would do what are expected to do.’’

When the Army spokesman, Brigadier- Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim, was contacted, he expressed similar views.

According to him, ‘’There are procedures in implementing government’s decisions and I am sure those processes are ongoing, and once it is the turn of the army to play its part, you can be sure that this would be done.’’

Source: Leadership