On Monday, the Federal Government said presidential pardons would be
granted to drug peddlers, persons convicted of obtaining money under
false pretences and certain categories of prisoners who have shown
remorse while in confinement, to decongest prisons in the country.
Speaking during his visit to prisons in the North-East and
North-Central zones, vice-chairman of the Presidential Advisory
Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, William Alo, who is also the
Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Office of Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, said President Buhari was empowered by his
statutory responsibilities and backed by Section 175 of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) to accept, reject and grant pardons to
inmates of Nigerian prisons. He said, “Presidential pardons will be
granted to inmates who committed federal offences such as drug peddling,
vandalisation of public property, obtaining by tricks, otherwise known
as 419, and other related offences, if proved that they are remorseful
of their actions and meet the committee criteria.” Also speaking while
hosting Alo and his team, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Pius
Damulak, called on the committee to review the cases of prison inmates
with compassion as many of them are serving terms as a result of poverty
and their inability to pay fines imposed as options.The post Prison decongestion: FG to grant presidential pardons to drug peddlers, fraudsters.Prison decongestion: FG to grant presidential pardons to drug peddlers, fraudsters
On Monday, the Federal Government said presidential pardons would be
granted to drug peddlers, persons convicted of obtaining money under
false pretences and certain categories of prisoners who have shown
remorse while in confinement, to decongest prisons in the country.
Speaking during his visit to prisons in the North-East and
North-Central zones, vice-chairman of the Presidential Advisory
Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, William Alo, who is also the
Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Office of Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, said President Buhari was empowered by his
statutory responsibilities and backed by Section 175 of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) to accept, reject and grant pardons to
inmates of Nigerian prisons. He said, “Presidential pardons will be
granted to inmates who committed federal offences such as drug peddling,
vandalisation of public property, obtaining by tricks, otherwise known
as 419, and other related offences, if proved that they are remorseful
of their actions and meet the committee criteria.” Also speaking while
hosting Alo and his team, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Pius
Damulak, called on the committee to review the cases of prison inmates
with compassion as many of them are serving terms as a result of poverty
and their inability to pay fines imposed as options.The post Prison decongestion: FG to grant presidential pardons to drug peddlers, fraudsters.
