The Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu may grant...

The Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu may grant the prerogative of mercy to four condemned persons by commuting their convicts to prison terms. This follows a letter dated May 31, 2002 signed by the Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Abdul Oroh.
He CLO20 wrote: "While acknowledging the heinous and reprehensible nature of the offence for which the appellants were convicted, the Civil Liberty Organisation hereby restates its unflinching disapproval of the death penalty. On humanitarian ground we urge your Excellency to exercise your prerogative of mercy by commuting the death sentence passed on the appellants to an appropriate term of imprisonment." In his response, Kalu in his letter to the CLO said he has treated the request positively.
He wrote: "I have treated your request to grant prerogative of mercy on Jerome Akpan, Monday Imo, Peter Nyado and Peter Job, whose conviction for murder was confirmed recently by the Supreme Court. The recommendation has been sent to the office of the Attorney-General of Abia State for necessary action."
The condemned persons Jerome Akpan, Monday Imo, Peter Nyado and Peter Job, have been in detention since 1988 following their trial and eventual conviction for the murder of one Sampson Etim on April 22, 1988. Their conviction, which was pronounced by an Umuahia High Court on November 30, 1999 was in May this year affirmed by the apex court where the matter was referred for final adjudication.
The crime was said to have been committed in Abia State in 1988 by the four condemned persons.