Ex-Governor Diepreye Alamieyesiegha

Barely twenty four hours after pleading guilty to stealing Bayelsa State funds, former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyesiegha, regained his freedom from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC detention.

Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan had facilitated Alamieyesiegha’s freedom after a secret meeting where the convicted former Governor was advised to plead guilty to charges of money laundering, fraud and corruption before a high court judge yesterday.

Alamieyesiegha was found guilty yesterday in six out of the 33 amended charges all bordering on corruption and embezzlement of public funds by a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu.

Each of the six charges that Alamieyeseigha was found guilty of carries two years imprisonment. They are, however, to run concurrently from December 9, 2005 when he was arrested.

Besides, the self-styled Governor General of Ijaw nation is to forfeit four properties, £2.29m, N1 Billion worth of shares in a commercial bank, N105million and $160,000.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Shuaibu, also directed that the properties be sold and the proceeds transferred to the Bayelsa State Government.

He was convicted on six out of the 33 amended charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judge then said,”By the amended charge with six other liability companies, the first accused person attest to the fact that he knowingly did not declare his assets and pleaded guilty to the said counts.