Abakaliki—Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has granted unconditional pardon and clemency to 15 indigenes of the state serving different jail terms in prisons across the country.
A statement in Abakaliki signed by Dr Ben Igwenyi, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice last Tuesday, said the pardon was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Centenary celebration.

It said the beneficiaries included eight inmates of Federal Prison Abakaliki, convicted for offences such as stealing and burglary.
The statement said seven inmates of Enugu prisons, serving different jail terms for offences ranging from murder to armed robbery, also benefited from the pardon.

“The exercise is in accordance with the provisions of Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“It empowers the governor of a state to grant pardon to persons who are convicted of offences under State Law, after consultations with the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy,” it said.

The statement said Bernard Alifi was among the inmates serving capital sentence but who had been granted pardon.
Alifi’s death sentence was earlier commuted to life imprisonment and later reduced to 10 years by the governor.
“Others include Ogbonnaya Ivi, Samuel Uguru, Obinna Aribodo, Ifeanyi Ibechukwu, Monday Nwibo and Obodo Opoke,” it said.

The statement, however, said the governor expressed the hope that the beneficiaries of the amnesty would turn a new leaf.
“The governor also urged them to utilise the vocations they learnt in prison to contribute to the development of their communities,” it said.