The Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir has pardoned 96 convicted inmates from the various correctional facilities across the state.
Speaking during the “Freedom Day” ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Bauchi, Gov. Abdulkadir said the decision to pardon the inmates was recommended by the state advisory committee on prerogative of mercy and it aims at decongesting correctional facilities across the state to ensure due compliance with the law and to avoid negative impacts.
According to him, “I feel sad when I visit the facility and see the faces of young and productive people who should be out there contributing to the development of our state.
“On this note, I appeal to the freed inmates to work with the security agencies by sharing vital information that would be positive to the society to curb crimes.”
The state’s chief executive officer also expressed satisfaction with the servo for having skills acquisition centers, where inmates learn various skills to enable them to live productive lifestyles,
He urged the pardoned inmates to be law-abiding and grab a legitimate endeavor to earn a living.
He disclosed that his administration had been working to improve economic activities especially for youths to be useful to the state.
On his part, Bauchi State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Hassan E-Yakub (SAN) explained that the move is backed by section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria bestowed on the executive governor.
E-Yakub who is also the chairman of the state Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy said the committee had received 106 applications seeking the governor’s pardon but 10 were disqualified for not meeting the committee’s yardstick which includes – age, communicable diseases, minor offenses, and life sentences.
During their separate pleas to the freed inmates, renowned Islamic Scholar, Ustaz Hassan Ibrahim Zango, and the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Lydia Tsammani, both called on the lucky ex-convicts to reciprocate the gesture by becoming good citizens and contributing to the development of their communities.
