Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria, on Thursday signed the release of 14 inmates selected from across the six correctional centres in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that this was in line with the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Sule noted that the exercise was carried out after due consultation with the state Advisory Council on the prerogative of mercy, to ensure due compliance with the law and to avoid negative impacts.
He said, “I am always sad when I come and see the faces of very productive people, some of you very young who should be out there contributing to the development of our state, especially at a time like this. And contributing to the development of yourselves and your families.”
Sule further advised those getting the pardon to be of good character and to show good examples so that the government would be motivated to free more inmates in the coming period.
The governor had on Monday approved the pardon for the 14 inmates serving various jail terms at Custodial Centres in the state.
The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Labaran Magaji, noted the governor’s action was in exercise of the powers conferred on him under Sections 212 (1) and (2) of the Constitution.
Magaji gave the names of the inmates as Sani Musa, Mohammed Maji, Danjuma Anthony, Ali Mohammed, Yahuza Turaki, Ibrahim Musa, and Abdullahi Usman.
Others are: ThankGod Bananas, Usman Idris, Adamu Sule, Terzungwe Mshi, Shehu Abubakar, Zacheous Ayuba and Surajo Abdullahi.
Section 212 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says the Governor may grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence created by any law of a state a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.
