In the spirit of the Easter celebration and exercising his Prerogative of Mercy under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),
governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has grant freedom to five inmates who were serving various terms of imprisonment in the state and reduced death sentence on 30 others to life imprisonment.
According to a statement from the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor, made available to HardReporters, the governor acted pursuant to powers vested on him in exercising his powers of prerogative of mercy in the spirit of the Easter celebration as well as taking into considerations the several international and local pleas including those from Amnesty International.
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Mr. Mrakpor explained that the Governor acted in accordance to his constitutional powers based on the recommendations of the 7-Man Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, A.P.J. Okpakpor which was inaugurated by the Governor on 30th March, 2017.
The statement however adds that, the Governor approved the grant of full pardon to the following inmates and ordered their immediate release; Livinus Ugwu (M) who was sentenced to 20 years, Enebeli Dike (M), a condemned convict, Orji Pascal (M), serving a 10 year jail term, Moses Agedah who was also on death row and Martins Ishiekwene, a prisoner sentenced to death on the 30th of November, 1998.
The 30 inmates whose sentences were commuted by the Governor were all death row inmates, sentenced to death by hanging.
The statement further stated that the Okowa’s administration was irrevocably committed to better the lives of the people including prisoners as the Government has come out with various rehabilitation programmes through skill acquisitions, trainings and other empowerment programmes geared towards their reintegration back to society.
The Prison Authorities have therefore been advised to immediately act on the warrants of pardon signed by the governor.
