By Associated Press
 |
|
President
Barack Obama
|
LAGOS, Nigeria – The United States has
criticized Nigeria for issuing a pardon to a former governor convicted of
corruption who is a political confidant of the nation's president.
In messages Friday on Twitter, the U.S.
Embassy in Nigeria said it was "deeply disappointed" over the pardon
issued this week of former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was
impeached and later convicted in Nigeria. Investigators said he likely stole
millions of dollars while in office.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan
once served as Alamieyeseigha's deputy. His impeachment marked the start of
Jonathan's rise in Nigerian politics.
The embassy said: "We see this as
a setback in the fight against corruption." Embassy spokeswoman Deb
MacLean said Friday that officials had no further immediate comment.
Nigeria is a top U.S. crude oil
supplier.
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