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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Govt to pardon 62 prisoners at Independence
SIXTY-TWO prisoners nation-wide will breath fresh air of freedom on October 1, the nation's 44th independence anniversary as part of the Federal Government's traditional Independence Day ritual.
The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved the pardon, which was recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, told journalists after the weekly meeting presided over by Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the pardon would be granted in accordance with the dictate of the constitution.
Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to pardon persons who were convicted, under any offence established under the act of the National Assembly.
According to Chikelu, out of the 62 pardoned, 60 are currently serving jail terms in various prisons across the country.
But the remaining two who have completed their jail terms are benefiting from the measure, to blot out the odium of the offence for which they were convicted.
He said: "Customarily, Mr. President has exercised this power usually around the period of our independence. Today, council received a note on the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, where they recommended 62 Nigerians to enjoy or benefit from the President's prerogative of mercy. These 62 Nigerians, 60 of them are serving various prison terms in the country's prisons, while two others are people who have actually completed their prison terms, but want to have their names removed in order to enjoy some of the benefits of not having had a criminal record in the past".
Giving the details of the beneficiaries, Chikelu stated that they were in 11 categories: "The first category are those who are 60 years and above; the second category are those suffering from debilitating ill-health that is likely to incapacitate or result in death; the third category is for young persons 16 years and below; the fourth is long-term prison convicts who have spent 10 years and above; the fifth is long-term awaiting trial, who have spent 10 years and above; the sixth are those on three-year term and above, having less than six months to go; the seventh are those who have, while in prison, learnt some sustainable vocational skill or training capable of keeping them away from crime on release.
"The eight are those who are adjudged remorseful; the ninth are those recommended by prison officials for their exemplary behaviour; the 10th are suspects who have been detained for a period longer than the prescribed appropriate jail term for the offence they have committed; the 11th category are Nigerian prisoners deported from other countries. Out of these categories, four categories were recommended. And this will still go to the National Council of States (NCS) for final approval. So 62 people recommended for the prerogative of mercy as part of Independence Day celebration was considered by the Federal Executive Council".
He explained that the committee visited 57 prisons, interviewed and screened the beneficiaries directly, as the council does not pick candidates for pardon.
They also approved a proposal by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu to restructure all the agencies under his ministry for enhanced tourism development.
The reorganisation would affect the 10 agencies under the Culture and Tourism Ministry, and is aimed at reducing cost in the sector, in line with the review undertaken by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
On the low turnout of ministers for the meeting, Chikelu explained that some of the ministers travelled with the President to Tunisia, while others were performing urgent assignment out of the country.
In all cases, he disclosed that the ministers took permission to travel, adding that what was important was that the council as constituted had its weekly meeting.
Ogbuewu said that the restructuring would enhance the performance of the parastatals and put them in a better position to face challenges of the day.
He said that in the course of the exercise, "operational mechanism, people involved and the leadership" of the parastatals would be restructured.
"The council has empowered me to do a few things necessary to achieve results that will generate foreign exchange that will increase the revenue base of the country," he said.
The minister explained that a WTO team that assessed the performance of the parastatals advised that they should be restructured for better service delivery.
On whether the ministry was not interested in developing sites such as the shrine of the long juju of Arochukwu, he said that a slave route project was being packaged.
He stated that the project, which would be carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) would expose blacks in Diaspora to the "disadvantages of today".
On Oguta Lake, Ogbuewu stressed the need for the government of Imo State to show enough interest in tourism development, before the Federal Government would assist.
He said that tourism was on the concurrent list, which implied that both state and Federal Governments were free to go into its development.
On whether the ministry would take over Okija shrine, which became a centre of attraction following gory tales that emanated from there recently, Ogbuewu kept mum.`
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