Six prisoners incarcerated in the Nigerian Correctional Facility in Makurdi, the state capital, have been pardoned by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia. The Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Benue State, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Esq., ACArb, is the head of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, which recommended the clemency. Mr. Umar Dansabe, a death row inmate who has been incarcerated for more than 14 years, is one of the six released prisoners.
In an armed robbery operation, Mr. Danasabe stole a cell phone from a woman at Gyado Villa in Makurdi and sold it for sixteen thousand naira. The State High Court condemned him to death by hanging.
“Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) empowers the Governor through the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy to pardon some inmates who have shown genuine change and remorse by exhibiting good character worthy to cohabit with other members of society to be reintegrated,” said Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order Fidelis Mnyim.
Governor of Benue In granting the pardon, the governor—represented by the Commissioner for Justice—explained that the recommendation and testimonials of both good-hearted persons who engaged with the prisoners at the prison and those who cut across the clergy were the only basis for the decision. He claimed that there was no political overtone to his activity.
“The government has made available programs that are geared towards reforming and empowering the youths with relevant skills to be useful to themselves, which the inmates can take advantage of,” the governor said, adding that the released inmates had been empowered with various skills acquisition to make them self-reliant and useful to society.
