In commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, Enugu State Governor, His Excellency Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has approved the pardon, release and commutation of sentences of 13 inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres across the state.
The decision was taken under the Governor’s constitutional power of Prerogative of Mercy pursuant to Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and following consultation with the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Enugu State.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s media aide, Uche Anichukwu, the approval was conveyed to the Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Enugu State Command, by the Chief of Staff to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze.
The beneficiaries are Kenneth Ozioko, Moses Saliyat, Promise Ndudim Olung, Chijioke Ugwu, Samuel Ani, Eugene Odo, Celsus Emeachi, Caleb Jatto, Calistus Eze, Gabriel Onu, Timothy Ani, Ernest Okeke and Ejike Nwodo.
While some of the beneficiaries were granted pardon and released, some inmates serving death sentences had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
The Governor’s decision followed reports of ill health and proven reforms in character among the affected inmates, as well as recommendations from the Correctional Services to the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
The Advisory Council is chaired by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and includes representatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), among other stakeholders in the justice sector.
Section 212(1) of the 1999 Constitution empowers a state governor to grant pardon, grant respite from punishment, substitute a less severe form of punishment or remit all or part of a punishment imposed for an offence created by state law.
The Constitution further provides under Section 212(2) that the Governor shall exercise the powers after consultation with the state’s Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
