Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governor, has approved the grant of total pardon to five inmates who were serving various prison terms and commuted 30 others on death row to life imprisonment.

The State Government has also approved the construction, rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of four roads in the capital territory.
The pardon was in the exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
A statement released from the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, stated that the governor acted pursuant to powers vested on him in exercise of his powers of prerogative of mercy in the spirit of the Easter celebration and took into considerations the several international and local pleas including those from Amnesty International.


The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice explained that the governor acted in accordance to his constitutional powers based on the recommendations of the Seven-Man Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by Chief Patrick Okpakpor that was inaugurated by the Delta Governor on March 30, 2017.
He said the governor approved the grant of full pardon to the following inmates and ordered their immediate release: Livinus Ugwu (M) who was sentenced to 20 years, Enebeli Dike (M), a condemned convict, Orji Pascal (M), serving a 10 year jail term, Moses Agedah who was also on death row and Martins Ishiekwene, a prisoner sentenced to death on November 30, 1998.


The 30 inmates whose sentences were commuted by the governor were all death row inmates, sentenced to death by hanging.

Meanwhile, the roads construction was part of the decisions taken during the State Executive Council meeting held inside the Government House, Asaba, on Tuesday.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who spoke after the meeting listed the approvals to include the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Ibusa Road (from Nnebisi Road to Benin/Asaba Expressway), Asaba, and the construction of Ambassador Leo Okogwu Road (from Onwuegbuzie Street junction to Osuzoka Street in Zappa), Asaba.


Others are the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Jesus Saves Road (from Summit Road junction to Onwuegbuzie Street junction) and Onwuegbuzie Street (from Jesus Saves Road junction to Nnebisi Road by Konwea Plaza), Asaba, and the construction of NCC Institute/State’s Owner-Occupier Housing Estate/CBN Housing Estate Road, off Asaba-Ugbolu-Illah Road, Ugbolu, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

Ukah further disclosed that the construction of Creme Suites Road, Owa-Ekei, (from old Lagos-Asaba Road to Kingsway Street junction) in Ika North East, the rehabilitation and construction of various roads in Ekakpamre, Ughelli South and the construction of Queens Street, Boji Boji, Agbor, Ika South, were equally approved.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/okowa-grants-pardon-to-five-prison.html

death row =life imprisonment