The former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, on Friday regained his freedom, as the Nigerian Prison Service released him at 3pm.
Though the details of his release were not available as at press time, the ex-governor was said to be at his residence at Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos around 8pm.
Alamieyeseigha was taken to Ikoyi Prison on Thursday after Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted him on six out of the amended 33-count charge that was preffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
Confirming the release of the ex-governor, spokesman for the NPS, Lagos State Command, Mr Ope Fatinukun, told one of our correspondents on the telephone that Alamieyeseigha had been released, since he had completed his prison term.
He said, � According to the prison rules and regulations, Alamieyeseigha has completed his prison term and has been released to go home.�
A source at the EFCC also confided in our correspondent that the ex-governor came to the commission� s office after his release to pack his personal effects. He added that Alamieyeseigha later left the EFCC�s office for his residence.
The ex-governor�s journey to freedom began when he entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC and pleaded guilty to the financial crimes in court on Thursday. The judge thereafter sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each of the six-count charge, which were to run concurrently from the day of his arrest.
Since one year prison term amounts to eight months and Alamieyeseigha was arrested on December 9, 2005, the ex-governor had completed his prison term. The judge said that four properties, 2.29m pounds, N1bn shares in a commercial bank, N105m and $160,000 should be forfeited to the Federal Government.