Thursday, March 28, 2024

20 convicts to receive state pardon in Ebonyi

BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI

The Ebonyi State government has declared its readiness to grant state pardon to 20 convicts in the state.

This is in accordance with Council of Mercy Law (Cap. 8) Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009 and the imperative of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, made this known in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s state executive council meeting.

Orji noted that the “Considerations were on grounds that peace had been made between the families of the victims and the convicts, ill health, where there was no case of premeditated intention and where there were possibilities of proper integration into the society upon manifest remorse.”

According to him, “A report on the applications by certain members of the public requesting for a State Pardon for certain convicts in the State was presented to Exco by the Chairman of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Chief Barr Cletus Ofoke.

“Exco noted the requests made and the considerations sought in the 28 applications made. Exco also noted the painstaking consultations made by the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy and the discretionary powers of the Governor under the Council of Mercy Law (Cap. 8) Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009 and the imperative of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and approved the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy that a total of 20 out of 28 applicants be granted a State pardon by the Governor of Ebonyi State.”

The Commissioner also noted the interest of the state government to implement the harmonized retirement age of 65 years for teachers in Nigeria in the state and ordered conditions for implementation of the same to commence.

“A circular on the implementation of the harmonized retirement age and length of service in the teaching profession in Nigeria was read in Exco by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Zyjl Nwangele. Exco noted the content of the circular and the fact that Education is in the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Exco approved that the new retirement age for the teaching profession at sixty-five (65) years of age and length of service of forty (40) years which so ever comes first be implemented in the state. Exco further directed that the Ministry of Education should work out modalities and conditions for the implementation.”

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