About 11 inmates walked free on Sunday as Governor Enugu State, Peter Mbah exercised his Prerogative of Mercy powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Senior Special Assistant to Mbah on External Relations, Uche Anichukwu, the kind gesture from the governor is in line with the state’s plans to begin the process decongesting the state’s correctional facilities.

Anichukwu revealed that the beneficiaries are Ugochukwu Oma, Onah Nnamdi, Chiadikobi Onu, Emmanuel Sambo, Emeka Nyia, and Ngene Oluebube. Others are Francis Chinecherem, Eze Chigozie, Anthony Tombari, Francis Chibuzor, and Uzoma Nnaoche.

He added that the state government is bent on rehabilitating inmates and encourage them to embrace better lifestyle after freedom, stressing that beneficiaries of the clemency were conveyed to the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kingsley Udeh, by the Chief of Staff to Mbah, Mr Victor Udeh.

,”It was also in consultation with the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy. “The decision was in concordance with reports of proven reform in character, ability to reintegrate with society having possessed or learnt some productive skills.

“It followed the recommendations by the Correctional Services and the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

“The Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy draws membership from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), among other reputable justice sector institutions,”
Anichukwu said.