The Governor of Benue, Hyacinth Alia, has given State Pardon to 12 prisoners who were serving different sentences at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre Makurdi.
Alia gave the pardon on Monday when he paid a visit to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Makurdi, the capital of Benue.
He urged the pardoned prisoners to behave well as they rejoined society and utilise the skills they learned while in prison to improve their lives.
He said that they were given pardons because of his administration’s commitment to provide the best for the people, and expressed sorrow that most of the prisoners were young people who should not be in prison at all.
He revealed that one of those who received a state pardon was Dennis Yogbo, who was sacked from the state Civil Service about 28 years ago.
He said that with the pardon, Yogbo’s sack had also been changed to termination of appointment.
“Give your society the very best. And as for the gentleman whose sack has been changed to termination of appointment, don’t take any aspects of life for granted; show your newness in your society.
“This should not be home for them. I was quite surprised to see the faces of many young people here, where there are a total of 525 prisoners including 25 females, one with a baby, while some came in with pregnancy,” he said.
Alia said that his decision was based on the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy led by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.
In his earlier remarks, the attorney general and commissioner for justice and public order said that the advisory council recommended those who were given pardons by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution for crimes they committed against the state.
Mnyim said that the prisoners who received pardons were from Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko correctional facilities.
The State Comptroller, Nigeria Correctional Service, Mrs Mary Oche appreciated the efforts of the government in making sure that prisoners did not stay in the correctional centres for no reason.
Oche also praised the governor for giving transportation fares to the prisoners to reach their various destinations and celebrate the New Year with their families.
Speaking on behalf of the released prisoners, Barnabas Apav, thanked the governor for the kindness and promised that from now on, they would behave well as they returned to the society.
Also, Dennis Yogbo, who received a state pardon, said he had been in prison for 28 years, until God used Alia to rescue him, following the recommendation of the council, after reviewing his case and changing his sack to termination. (NAN)