Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the pardon, release, and commutation of sentences of 13 inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in the state.
Mr Mbah’s media aide, Uche Anichukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
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Mr Anichukwu said the governor pardoned the convicts in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.
“This is in the exercise of his power of Prerogative of Mercy under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and in consultation with the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Enugu State,” he said.
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The media aide said the approval was conveyed to the Comptroller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Enugu State Command, by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osinachi Nnajieze.
Mr Anichukwu listed the beneficiary inmates to include Kenneth Ozioko, Moses Saliyat, Promise Olung, Chijioke Ugwu, Samuel Ani, and Eugene Odo.
Others are Celsus Emeachi, Caleb Jatto, Calistus Eze, Gabriel Onu, Timothy Ani, Ernest Okeke, and Ejike Nwodo.
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The official said some of the inmates were pardoned and released, while others had their death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
He explained that Mr Mbah’s decision was predicated on reports of ill-health and/or proven reform in character, and following a recommendation by the Correctional Services to the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the state’s attorney-general.
Mr Anichukwu said other members of the council include representatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation, and the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, among other reputable bodies in the justice sector.
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The media aide noted that the governor’s action was backed by Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution.
He acknowledged that Subsection 2 of the Section provides that the powers of the governor shall be exercised after consultation with an advisory council of the state on the prerogative of mercy as may be established by law of the state.
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