From: Gyang Bere, Jos
The hope of 40 inmates in Plateau State has been dashed as Governor Simon Lalong, on Tuesday, declined to grant them prerogative of mercy following their request for unconditional release.
The governor said those inmates had pending appeals when their applications where being considered by the State Advisory Council on prerogative of mercy.
Lalong stated this during a press briefing through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Jonathan Mawuyai, to marked the 2017 Democracy Day in Jos, Plateau State.
He, however, pardoned six inmates who were sentenced to death by hanging for committing murder and other offences.
He noted that the procedure for the prerogative of mercy started with an application rooted from the prison or from relations to the state advisory council on prerogative of mercy and made recommendation to the Governor on who qualify to be granted state pardon.
Lalong noted that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasiru Islam (JNI) and the Nigeria Prison among other groups were engage in a robust and frank discussion devoid of sentiment to determine who enjoys the prerogative of mercy.
“Consequently, 46 applications were received through the prison and the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of mercy discussed the applications intensively and made recommendation to the Governor.
“Out of the 46 applications, for different reasons 40 did not qualified, most of them have their appeal pending and their applications were not considered, some of them were sentence last year and such people do not qualify.
“Through the process of weeding, 40 of them were weeded off while six persons were granted state pardon. One of them was released unconditionally and five had their sentences committed from the death sentence to life imprison went.”
Among the beneficiaries includes Emmanuel John was released unconditionally while, Sunday Sylvanus, Evaristus Mozie, Bitrus Gokir, Ibrahim Jafiya and Rabo Zubairu had their death sentence committed to life imprisonment.