Two thousand, six hundred inmates at various correctional facilities in Nigeria have been granted pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Those who received the prerogative of mercy include 885 convicts who could not pay their fines totalling N21.4 million. By this development, the government will now make the payments on their behalf to enable them get their freedom.
A former governor of old Bendel State, late Prof Ambrose Alli, foremost nationalist, late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Ex Lt. Col. Moses Effiong, Major E.J. Olanrewaju and Ajayi Olusola Babalola were among the ex-convicts granted clemency by the President.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who briefed journalists in conjunction with his Information counterpart, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said the gesture was on compassion.
Aregbesola said: A total number of 2,600 inmates spread across the various custodial centres qualified to benefit from the amnesty. These, include 885 convicts who could not pay their fines totalling N21.4 million which the government will pay on their behalf to enable them get their freedom. From this number, 41 inmates are federal convicts, two of which have been granted pardon.”
He explained that the clemency will not apply to inmates sentenced for various capital or violent offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide etc.
According to him, 70 of the inmates would be released today from Kuje maximum custodial centre.
In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the AGF explained that the process of coming up with the list of beneficiaries commenced in 2018 when the PACPM was inaugurated to advise the president on granting pardon/clemency to deserving inmates and ex-convicts in line with the Nigerian Constitution.
Malami explained that in carrying out the assignment, the committee adopted the use of interviews, observations, consultation and relevant documents called for and received from each of the correctional centres in Nigeria.
“Out of the 176 persons interviewed, presidential pardon has been granted to 2 inmates. Mr. President granted clemency to 39 inmates as recommended by the PACPM out of which four inmates are from Kuje Correctional Centre. In addition, Mr. President has also graciously granted Pardon to 5 ex-convicts,” Malami said.