COVID-19: Borno governor grants pardon to 93 inmates

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has granted pardon to 93 inmates serving various jail terms in correctional centres across the state as part of measures to decongest the correctional facilities across the country.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kakashehu Lawan, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri Tuesday, said 58 inmates were pardoned from the state’s Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri, 32 from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, and six from Biu Medium Security Custodial Centre.

Lawan, who is also the Chairman of Borno State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, added that the governor graciously granted the pardon in line with the policy of the Federal Government to decongest Custodial Centres as part of measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He said: The amnesty was approved following the recommendation of the Borno State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy after it reviewed 96 applications received from the Controller of the Correctional Service, Borno State Command.

“The applications received were considered based on those that had served their terms with less than six months to go and long-term prisoners that had served for more than 10 years with good records.

“Others included illness likely to lead to death or terminal sickness, old age, those with the option of fine not exceeding N50,000 and have no pending cases, minor offenses, low-risk offenders, and those considered on compassionate ground.

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“19 among the inmates whose terms were less than six months were considered, while four among the inmates were pardoned based on terminal health challenges.”

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