- Taraba state resident have accused the federal government of witch-hunt against their former governor Jolly Nyame
- The residents said the present administration is being selective in its anti-corruption war
- They urged Nyame to appeal his 14-year jail term by a High Court in Abuja
Some residents of Taraba state have pleaded with their former governor, Jolly Nyame, to appeal the 14-year jail term slammed on him by a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Wednesday, May 30.
The individuals in their appeal accused the federal government of being selective in its anti corruption war.
Vanguard reports that the executive secretary of Zing local government area were Nyame hails from said the present administration is witch-hunting some selected individual.
READ ALSO: 2019 Presidency: Emirs, Obasanjo allegedly back Tanimu, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso
Dominc Vontih said the news of Nyame's jail sentence has destabilised activities in the local government area.
"What about the rest that are there? There are some that are ministers, ambassadors and even in the House of Representatives and Senate who are being celebrated with nothing done to them.
Why must it be selected individuals? If you are fighting corruption it should start from you," Vontih said.
Also, a close associate of the former governor, Mohammed Umar, said the verdict by the court is barbaric.
READ ALSO: Breaking: Army uncovers container full of arms
Umar said the governor during his tenure laid a solid foundation which other governors after him have built on.
In his reaction, another resident, Nierus Johnson, said the former governor still has windows of redress.
He advised Nyame and his legal team to consider testing the decision of the high court at the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that the FCT High Court had sentenced Nyame to 14 years imprisonment without any option of fine.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
The court in its judgement said Nyame was found guilty of 27 out of 41 counts of alleged diversion of public funds while he served as governor of Taraba state.
The court said the terms - of two, five, seven and 14 years respectively - are expected to run concurrently.
This means the former governor would serve 14 years in jail unless the conviction is upturned by a higher court.
The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - On NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng