The Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, today granted five inmates who were serving various jail terms pardon in the State.
The governor also reduced death sentence on 30 others to life imprisonments.
Governor okowa urged the prison authorities to immediately act on the warrants of pardon he signed.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ivovi Aruoriwo, on behalf of the Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.Peter Mrakpor and made available to DAILY POST in Warri.
The Statement said that in exercising the, “powers of prerogative of mercy” vested in him, Governor Okowa acted in the spirit of the Easter celebration as well as taking into consideration the several international and local pleas including those from Amnesty International.
The Statement explained that the Governor acted in accordance with his constitutional powers based on the recommendations of the 7-Man Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, A.P.J. Mrakpor which was inaugurated by the Governor on 30th March, 2017.
The statement added that Governor Okowa approved the grant of full pardon to the following inmates and ordered their immediate release: Livinus Ugwu (M) who was sentenced to 20 years, Enebeli Dike (M), a condemned convict, Orji Pascal (M), serving a 10 year jail term, Moses Agedah who was also on death row and Martins Ishiekwene, a prisoner sentenced to death on the 30th of November, 1998.
The 30 inmates whose sentences were commuted by the Governor were all on death row.
The statement further said that the Okowa’s administration was irrevocably committed to better the lives of the people including prisoners as the Government has come out with various rehabilitation programmes through skill acquisitions, training and other empowerment programmes geared towards their reintegration back to the society.
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