NIGERIA: EBONYI STATE GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE ON 14 INMATES, PARDONS 32

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi ordered that death sentences on 14 prisoners of Ebonyi origin in various prisons be commuted to life imprisonment.
The governor gave the order on October 1st in Abakaliki during activities to mark the 56th Independence Day and 20th year of Ebonyi creation. According to the governor, 32 inmates from the state have also been granted unconditional pardon for offenses which they were jailed.
“The order is to the comptrollers of Enugu, Abakaliki and Afikpo prisons and pursuant to powers of Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, conferred on me as the state governor.
“These decisions were reached after due consultation with the state’s Committee on Prerogative of mercy and other enabling powers and this serves as the official warrant,” he said.
Umahi explained that the effective date of the decisions was Oct.1.
He said those whose death sentences were annulled included Igantius Ochioso, Paul Ominyi, Nnachi Asula, Sunday Ukpai, Onyebuchi Eze and Ikechukwu Nwafor.
“Those who were pardoned unconditionally include Ogbuzuru Odoh, Ogbonnia Odom, Shadrack Eboko, Ezi Ekum, Nduisi Nwodo, Paul Una, Musa Bako, Chikwu Ndukwe, Mgbeleke Oduma, Ugo Ogbuba, among others.
“The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, is advised to submit report on the released inmates’ conduct to my office, to ascertain whether they still pose threat to society,” he said.