The Federal Government has approved the release of 2,600 prison inmates across Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday, April 9, 2020, said that the clemency and pardon granted by President Muhmmadu Buhari to the inmates of the Custodial Centres of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the custodial centres and discourage the spread of coronavirus (COVID19) in the country.
The minister said that the affected inmates are state offenders in custodial centres across the country.
He noted that the amnesty only applies to inmates who are 60 years old and above; those suffering from ill health that could be terminal; inmates serving three years and above and have less than six months left to serve; inmates with mental issues; and inmates with options of fine not exceeding N50,000.
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While 70 of the inmates would be released in Abuja, the rest are expected to be released by the state governors after convening a meeting of their individual committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
In a similar development, the president granted a presidential pardon to a former Governor of old Bendel State, late Prof. Ambrose Alli and foremost nationalist, late Chief Anthony Enahoro.
The president also granted pardon to three other Nigerians, two of whom are ex-military officers according to Aregbesola.
“I am pleased to inform you that five ex-convicts recommended for presidential pardon (by Buhari) have been so pardoned. They are late Prof Ambrose Ali, Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, ex Lt. Col. Moses Effiong, Major E.J. Olanrewaju and Ajayi Olusola Babalola. Prof Ali was the governor of the old Bendel State in the Second Republic (1978-1983) and a great progressive while Chief Enahoro was a foremost nationalist who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence.
“I must thank and commend President Buhari for demonstrating great statesmanship by pardoning these people who were part of the great Nigerian history”, he said.
Yetunde Adegoke
