By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Seventy-Three inmates serving various jail terms at the various Correctional Centres across Bauchi State can now breath air if freedom as the Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has granted them amnesty.
The beneficiaries were before the amnesty, serving various terms of imprisonment for various criminal offences having been convicted and sentenced by the various courts.
While addressing the beneficiaries in a ceremony held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, the Governor emphasized that the prerogative of mercy is a sacred trust, requiring wisdom, restraint, and careful evaluation.
According to him, “Ramadan is a season of mercy, reflection, repentance, renewal, and devotion.It reminds us that while justice preserves order, mercy restores hope.”
Bala Mohammed further noted that the decision to pardon the inmates was based on a “thorough, evidence-based process, considering factors such as remorse, improved conduct, health realities, age, and the broader interest of justice.”
Bala Mohammed, stated, the exercise was done in the exercise of his powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He added that, “This is not a symbolic gesture, but a deliberate decision to give deserving individuals a new lease on life.”
The Governor expressed appreciation to the Attorney General of the State, the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, and the Correctional Service for their rigorous and transparent work in the pardon process.
He then announced that the sum of N100,000 grant has been approved to each beneficiary, intended to support their reintegration into society.
Speaking earlier before presenting the convicts to the Governor for pronouncements of clemency, the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Hassan El-Yakub, SAN,
in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, disclosed that the exercise was done in consultation with the Justice Council, for the government justified by law.
According to him, “We look at old ages, those that are 60, 70, 80, also look at people who have been held for too long, those that have terminal diseases, those that do not have terminal diseases but have served more than one third of their sentence, and who have shown remorse and good conduct.”
He added that, “Also, we look at those who have committed minor offenses with options of fine or compensation, who have served one third of their sentences and have shown remorse and exhibited good character. So these are the criteria we used for those in this group.”
The Commissioner added that, “For obvious reasons, those not considered are those with cases such as rape, kidnapping, culpable homicide, armed robbery, terrorism, and so on.The Council itself in the consideration of the processes conducted interviews, assessed the majority records, considered health conditions, and the one with each for this practice.”
He called on the judiciary to adopt non-custodial measures such as community service for minor offences in order to serve as reformatry and decongestion of the Centres.
He then disclosed that the Governor has graciously approved the sum of over N7m for compensation, fines and transportation support to the beneficiaries to their various destinations.
There exhortation to the beneficiaries by Islamic and Christian leaders on the need for them to turn a new life and become good citizens and contribute to the development of their immediate communities and the society in general.
They said that it was a great demonstration of love and mercy coming in the month of Ramadan and Lenten period for both Muslims and Christians.
In his remarks, Controller of Correctional Service, Bauchi, Monday Tebu, thanked the governor for the pardons and appealed to society to accept the released inmates, emphasizing the importance of community support for successful reintegration.
One of the beneficiaries commemded the Governor for the clemency granted to them as well as the monetary support given them saying it would go a long way in reiterating them back to the society.
A cross section of the pardoned inmates
Leave a Comment