El-Rufai, Akeredolu release 22 prisoners

Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday granted clemency to 10 prisoners and approved their immediate release from prison.

Similarly, Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), approved state pardon for 12 prisoners as part of activities to mark the New Year celebration.

The 10 pardoned prisoners in Kaduna, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, were serving jail terms ranging from three to six years with less than six months left to complete their terms.

Those granted pardon for their good behaviour were Habibu Iliyasu, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ibrahim Auwalu, Abubakar Abdullahi, Shehu Usman, Ibrahim Stephen, Saidu Idris, Ashimu Danmutuwa, Kabiru Mohammed and Aliyu Yusuf El-Rufai also granted pardon to Captain Idris S. Mohammed, a retired soldier and ex-convict who completed his prison term in 1985.

The recommendation to grant pardon to Captain Idris Mohammed, he said, was to remove the stigma of ex-convict from him.

Aruwan said the governor’s action was based on the recommendations of the Kaduna State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

In Ondo State, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Yemi Olowolabi, said the pardoned 12 prisoners had served portions of their various sentences, and that in a letter addressed to the Comptroller of Prisons, Governor Akeredolu advised that the indicated prisoners be released.

He said Akeredolu advised the freed prisoners to turn a new leaf and engage in legal and positive activities.