Musa Na Allah Sokoto
The Sokoto State Committee on Prerogative of Mercy freed 32 inmates, with different degree of offences from the state central Correctional Centre.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for justice Barrister Suleiman Usman (SAN), announced the pardon at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on behalf of the state Governor Aminu Waziri
Usman said the pardon was at the instance of the state Governor’s executive powers vested on him in Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to offer mercy to inmates.”
He said the gesture, was aimed at enabling the convicts to reunite with their family members and become decent citizens.
He said it was also intended to decongest correctional centers and protect the inmates from being affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
The commissioner, who is the state Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, called on the freed inmates to shun vices and engage in viable ventures that would uplift their living standards.
He also advised those pardoned to be of good character and avoid anything that would make them break the law and order in the state and the country in general.
Usman further said the exercise is carried out on routine basis to deserving inmates in order to offer mercy to them.
He later presented N50,000 cash to each of the pardoned inmates on behalf of the state Government, saying that the gesture would enable them to set up some useful ventures while starting a new life out of the prison.
The Sokoto state Deputy Controller (Operations) of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lawali Idris, lauded the efforts of the state government for granting freedom to such number of prisoners.
Lawali thanked the state government for its continued support and encouragement to correctional centers in the state.
