BENUE (Sundiata Post) – Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Sunday, December 31, 2023, granted pardon to 12 prison inmates, who were serving various jail terms at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Makurdi.
Alia, who granted the pardon during a visit to the Correctional Centre, also granted state pardon to Dennis Yogbo, who was dismissed from the State Civil Service about 28 years ago.
Under the arrangement, the dismissal that was slammed on Yogbo was converted to termination of appointment.
The governor took the decision following the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim.
While admonishing the pardoned inmates to be of good behaviour as they got re-integrated into the larger society, Governor Alia urged them to make use of the skills acquired while in confinement to better their lot.
He said; “Give your society the very best. And as for the gentleman whose dismissal has been converted to termination of appointment, don’t take any elements of life for granted; demonstrate your newness into your society.”
The governor noted that the act of mercy was granted based on his administration’s desire to offer the best to the people of Benue, even as he expressed concern that most of the inmates were young people who should not be anywhere near the prison.
Read him: “This should not be home for them. I was quite shocked to see the faces of many young people here. There are a total of 525 inmates including 25 females, one with a baby, while some came in with pregnancy.”
Earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order of Benue State, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, told the governor that the 8-man Committee did a thorough duty before recommending those that were granted pardon in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for offences they committed against the state.
Mnyim explained that the inmates granted pardon were drawn from Makurdi, Otukpo, and Gboko correctional facilities.
Responding on behalf of the pardoned inmates, Barnabas Apav thanked Governor Alia for the gesture and pledged to be of good behaviour as they go back to society.
Also speaking, Dennis Yogbo, who was granted state pardon, said he had been in bondage for 28 years, until God-sent governor Alia to come to his rescue, following the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, after reviewing his case and converting his dismissal to termination.
