Don’t pardon convicts, community warns Fayose

Some aggrieved members of Esure-Ekiti community in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose against granting the prerogative of mercy to seven accused persons who were convicted of various offences ranging from rioting to malicious and willful damage in the community in 2014.

No fewer than seven persons were arraigned and convicted by the court in 2014 after a bloody feud between members of the two warring quarters of Ilomu and Ayinshin in the town. During the crisis, houses and cars were damaged and a lot of people suffered casualities.

The letter of appeal to the governor, dated 29 June, 2016, written on behalf of Ilomu quarters by their counsel, Dr A.O. Adebayo, disclosed that the town has remained peaceful since the accused persons were convicted in 2014.

In the letter, the counsel declared that: “Our clients are constrained to write this letter in view of the information at their disposal that some highly placed people, particularly from Esure-Ekiti, including the traditional ruler have been mounting pressure on the government to release the prisoners through the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.

“They argued that the convicts were brought before the normal court, tried and convicted, stating that the only option opened to the accused persons was to appeal against the judgment.

“Our clients are not oblivious of the fact that the exercise of the right falls within your power and this cannot be questioned or challenged, but there must be reasonable ground for exercise of such discretion.”