Bayelsa: NCoS says Sylva's running mate, Maciver, no longer convicted

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The Nigeria Correctional Service said an ex-militant leader and deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Joshua Maciver, is free to contest the November 11 polls in Bayelsa State.

The agency said Maciver had no pending prison sentence obligation consequent upon the Amnesty Programme by former President Umaru Yar’Adua which granted the ex-militants pardon.

Dust had been raised that Maciver, before his emergence as the running mate of the APC governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, was sentenced over a criminal offence but he had yet to complete his jail term after escaping from prison.

The reports also indicated that he was not among the Niger Delta militants that were granted amnesty following proclamation by the Federal Government.

The document read, “This is to confirm that Mr. Joshua Maciver, who was serving a prison sentence in Kaduna Prisons following his conviction in charge number FHC/KD/119C/2004, on the 26th of February, 2006, was granted amnesty alongside other Niger Delta militants by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“This is pursuant to the Amnesty Proclamation dated the 25th of June, 2009 in exercise of the powers vested on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“He is, therefore, no longer under any legal obligation to continue to serve the prison sentence.”