Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has pardoned 11 convicts in exercise of the prerogative of mercy power conferred on him by Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House said the governor, acting on the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, released the inmates on Sunday.
The statement added that it is customary to express mercy on New Year’s Day by granting pardon to deserving prisoners under the jurisdiction of the state.
The Kaduna State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy earlier recommended the granting of amnesty and for the immediate release of Musa John, Yakubu Abdullahi and Habu Usman.
Other inmates released are: Shamsu Usman, Abdullahi Abdulmumuni, and Mahadi Abdullahi as well as Futune Mabuke, Abdullahi Lawal, Sunday Iliya, Mohammed Anas and Kayode Gabriel Adenji.
The statement said: “The Kaduna State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy based its recommendations on convicts sentenced to three years or more who have six months.
“He must serve no more than six months and a prison term of ten years or more from a sentence with good behavior,
“And inmates who are ill may die. The committee is also considering private submissions for clemency made to the governor.”
Earlier, El Rufai thanked the people of the country for giving him the opportunity to serve him well and for their understanding and support over the years.
The governor, who spoke at the Kaduna 2023 countdown celebration organized by the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA), “welcomed the people in the new year and called for optimism despite the difficult times.”
El Rufai also looked to him for his continued commitment to peace and prosperity, hoping, ”the hard work he has done since 2015 to make the country better and improve lives will continue with the next government.”
He told the crowd at the revamped Murtala Mohammed Square that the countdown to 2023 will be the last governorship of the state, just as he bid farewell.