SOKOTO State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has granted pardon to 17 inmates of Sokoto Central Custodial centre.
The governor according to a statement signed by Malam Muhammad Bello, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs on Tuesday, the gesture was part of government’s thrust as encapsulated in its committee on prerogative of mercy protocols.
Bello stated that the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Suleiman Usman (SAN), facilitated the processes.
“The pardon takes cognisance of the executive powers vested in the governor to offer mercy to inmates by the 1999 Constitution as amended.
” The gesture is also aimed at enabling the ex-prisoners to reunite with their family members and become decent citizens.
” It was also intended to decongest the prison and protect the inmates from being affected by the COVID 19 pandemic.
“This exercise is carried out on a routine basis to deserving inmates in order to offer mercy to them,” Bello said, disclosing that the Attorney General also presented N50,000 cash assistance to each of the pardoned inmates from the state government during the exercise.