BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI- Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, weekend, granted unconditional pardon to twelve persons serving various prison terms in the state.

Eight others serving death sentences for offences of murder and armed robbery had their penalty commuted to life imprisonment.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Ben Igwenyi, who disclosed this in Abakaliki, noted that the gesture was in line with the state government’s determination to decongest the prisons.

Mr. Igwenyi stated that the governor exercised his prerogative of mercy in favour of some of the ex-prisoners in the spirit of the commemoration of the 51st Independence of Nigeria and 15th anniversary

of creation of Ebonyi State, adding those involved were released from Abakaliki, Afikpo Federal and Enugu Prisons

He said: “The governor has granted unconditional pardon and ordered the release of eight prisoners serving jail term in Abakaliki and Afikpo Federal Prison. Four other prisoners who are serving life sentences, same having been commuted from death to life some years ago have been released from Enugu Prisons

“In similar vein, eight other Prisoners who are serving death sentence for offences of murder and armed robbery have their penalty commuted to life imprisonment. In other words, we have twelve (12) persons who are going home now and eight (8) others who are still prisoners as lifers, on account of this gubernatorial gesture.”

The Attorney General stated that Governor Elechi took into account representations made by religious groups, reports of good behaviour posted by the prison authorities and the need to turn around the lives

of prisoners, some of whom have spent 20 years in prison before exercising his constitutional obligation.

“It is the hope of His Excellency that these new beneficiaries will quickly re-integrate themselves into the society and employ the new trades they learnt in prisons to meaningful ventures,” he said.