COVID-19: 125 inmates to be released in Nasarawa

A total of 125 inmates are to be released in Nasarawa State towards the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and the need to urgently decongest the Correctional Centres across the country.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State disclosed this on Friday in a statement obtained by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

Sule disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the pardon of 2,600 inmates as part of his administration’s commitment towards the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and the need to urgently decongest the Correctional Centres across the country.

“In furtherance of the concerted efforts of the present administration towards the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and the need to urgently decongest the Correctional Centres across the country.

“His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has approved the pardon of 2,600 inmates. The inmates are in the following categories:

“Convicts with a fine of N50,000.00 and below; convicts with minor offences; On the grounds of old age (above 60 years);

“And those who have served 75 per cent of their sentences; and
convicts with less than 6 months to complete their sentences.

“In the light of the foregoing, a total of 125 inmates are to benefit from the Nasarawa State Correctional Centres across the State, ” it said.

Sule directed the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy to map out modalities for the immediate release of the affected inmates across the State Correctional Centres.

He used the medium to advise the affected inmates to be an agent of positive change of the state if finally released in their interest and for the overall development of the country.