SOKOTO State Governor, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in line with activities, line up for his second term in office, has yesterday, set free not less than 20 inmates from the Sokoto Central Prison.
Also, four civil servants who, hitherto, dismissed from service, have their dismissal converted to retirement.
This is contained in a statement released to our correspondent by the Director of information, the office of the deputy Governor, Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar on Thursday in Sokoto.
The statement disclosed that the immediate past commissioner for justice and Attorney General in the state, Barrister Suleman Usman announced the pardon at the Sokoto central prison on behalf of the Governor.
According to Suleiman, ” the pardon takes cognisance from executive powers vested on the governor to offer mercy to inmates by the 1999 constitution as amended.
“This was in addition to various applications & submissions received from the prison authority and some personalities requesting the government to offer the amnesty to the inmates as they are fully rehabilitated.
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“That was why some of the inmates were granted pardon unconditionally while some were subjected to conditions, the gesture was to enable the ex-prisoners to reunite with their family members and become decent citizens.”
The former Commissioner called on the freed prisoners to shun vices and engage in viable ventures that would uplift their living standards.
He further said the exercise is carried out on routine basis to deserving inmates to offer mercy to them and decongest the prison even as the former commissioner advised the released inmates to be of good characters and contribute positively to the development of the society.
He later presented the sum of N50,000 cash assistance to each of the pardoned inmates on behalf of the state government. He said the gesture was to enable them to set up some useful ventures while starting a new life out of the prison.
The former Attorney General also revealed that those civil servants benefited from the amnesty includes, Nuraddeen Hussaini, Tukur Modi Gumi, Hassan Muhammad iya as well as Garba Bello kyare.
Speaking, on behalf of the state controller of Prison, the deputy controller in charge of the prison, Mallam Idris Muhammad thanked the state government for its continued support and encouragement to the prison.
He equally praised the governor for granting their applications, requesting to pardon the inmates.
He assured that each of the pardoned inmates was properly trained and rehabilitated by the prison authority.
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