Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha

Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, who governed Bayelsa State from 1999 until his impeachment in December 2005, sits at the centre of one of Nigeria's most-cited gubernatorial corruption matters. He was arrested by the UK Metropolitan Police at Heathrow on 15 September 2005 on money-laundering allegations involving GBP1.8M in cash and accounts and approximately GBP10M in associated London assets. After being bailed by Bow Street / Southwark Crown Court, he left the United Kingdom in breach of bail conditions in November 2005, with UK authorities alleging he travelled in disguise — an account he denied. The Bayelsa State House of Assembly impeached him on 9 December 2005. On 26 July 2007 he entered a plea bargain before Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, pleading guilty to a six-count charge and accepting a two-year sentence (back-dated to his December 2005 arrest, so he served only hours of additional time) and a N1.6 billion forfeiture order. US DOJ Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative actions later forfeited a Rockville, Maryland residence (~USD700,000+) and approximately USD400,000 from a Boston investment account. On 12-13 March 2013 President Goodluck Jonathan — his former deputy who had succeeded him into the governorship after the impeachment, then become Vice-President and President — granted him an unconditional state pardon following a National Council of State meeting, drawing widespread domestic and international criticism. He died in Port Harcourt on 10 October 2015, aged 62. Charitable framing: he denied wrongdoing in respect of the UK allegations and the pardon, when granted, formally cleared the legal effect of the Nigerian conviction.