Segun Babatunde, Bauchi
Bauchi Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed on Friday granted state pardon to a total of 96 inmates serving various jail terms at Correctional Centres across the state as part of his administration’s resolve and determination to ensure decongestion of the Correctional Centres.
This is as the Governor declined pardon to convicts of capital offences in order to discourage others from committing such offences.
Speaking at the executive pardon held at the Banquet hall, Government House, Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed said seven million naira has been paid by the state government to facilitate the immediate release of the inmates from the correctional centres.
The Governor explained that the decision to pardon them followed careful review of their records by the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy who confirmed the remorsefulness of the inmates of their misdeeds and their determination to become good citizens who would be useful to themselves and the society.
He added that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) has given him powers as the Chief Executive of the State to pardon inmates in Correctional Centres in the State and announced government’s donation of 100 thousand naira to each of the 96 freed inmates for business.
He tasked the pardoned convicts to henceforth be law abiding citizens and engage in legitimate endeavors by taking advantage of the various empowerment windows provided by his administration so as to become self- reliant and useful members of the society.
“Consequently. Section 212(i) of the 1999 Constitution has vested in me powers that includes granting 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, granting to any person a respite, either for an indefinite or for a specified period of the punishment execution of any imposed person for such an offence; on that.
“Substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment Imposed on that person for such an offence, remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the State on account of such an offence. Suffice it to say that the aforementioned powers are exercised after due consultation with and on the advice of the State Committee on Prerogative of mercy.”
The Governor noted that his administration is committed to ensuring speedy dispensation of criminal justice, hence the approval for upward review of the N500,000:00 released to Ministry of Justice quarterly to N1,000,000:00 as prosecution fees meant for taking care of expenses incurred while procuring prosecution witnesses.
According to him, his administration has also provided all Departments at the Ministry of Justice with desktop computers and all State Counsels at the Ministry have been provided with lap top computers with other necessary facilities to facilitate access to judgments at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Governor Bala Mohammed therefore used the occasion to request the Chief Judge of the State to prevail on judges, especially judges of the lower courts to be wary of remanding persons at the Correctional Centres for simple offences or even purely civil cases like matrimonial matters.
On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan El-Yakub, explained that functions of the Advisory Council on Prerogative Mercy includes considering issues of well-being of Convicted inmates held in the Custodial Centres across the State including payment of fine or compensation which will not only help to decongest the Custodial Centres, but assist the reformed convicts to become good citizens who will eventually engage themselves in meaningful economic activities that will be beneficial to themselves and the society at large.
“Upon the reconstitution of the Advisory Council, it immediately swung into action and established standard protocol and the minimum requirements expected of an applicant for consideration for His Excellency’s prerogative of mercy. Accordingly, the Council predicated its work and considered the following eligibility criteria for Convicted inmates who are seeking for His Excellency’s pardon or mercy:
“i. Old Age 65 Years and above and have exhibited good character. ii. Ill-Health – Terminal, Severe and Contagious illnesses. iii. Long Term Sentence/Life Imprisonment who have served Ten (10) years and above and have exhibited good character.” END