Andrew Alli, son of Ambrose Alli, says his family never
believed that the late governor of the defunct Bendel state was guilty of any
crime.
Andrew said this while reacting on behalf of his family to
the posthumous presidential pardon granted his father by President Muhammadu
Buhari on Thursday.
Ambrose Alli was a medical professor who served as the first
civilian governor of Bendel state between 1979 and 1983.
He was sentenced to 100 years in prison by a military
tribunal during the military regime of Buhari for allegedly misappropriating
N983,000 in funds for a road project.
He was later freed when Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin,
paid a fine to the government.
He died on his 60th birthday on September 22, 1989, at the
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
In a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, Andrew
said his family is yet to be officially informed of the development, adding
that they only learnt of the pardon via social media.
He, however, thanked the president, for the gesture.
He also expressed gratitude to Godwin Obaseki, governor of
Edo state, for acting as a catalyst to the development.
According to Andrew, the presidential pardon is a testimony
to the fact that his father did no wrong “other than giving his all to improve
the lot of the people of the former Bendel”.
“We are aware of the announcement concerning the pardon of
my father, Professor Ambrose Alli, made by the Government, via its social media
pages,” Andrew wrote.
“Although we are yet to receive any direct official
communication on this matter, we are pleased to hear that our
father/uncle/brother/grandfather has received a presidential pardon.
“We have never believed that he was guilty of anything,
other than giving his all to improve the lot of the people of the former Bendel
State and, indeed, Nigeria. This is demonstrated by the enduring legacy that he
left.
“We thank his excellency, President Buhari, as well as his
excellency Governor Obaseki, and all those who have supported the process
inside and outside government, for their recognition of this fact.”
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