In what appears a major step towards containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday granted presidential pardon to 2,600 inmates of correctional centres nationwide.

The president also extended the clemency to Chief Anthony Enahoro, former governor of old Bendel state, Professor Ambrose Alli (both late) and several others.

While Ali was governor in the Second Republic (1978-1983) and a progressive elected on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Enahoro was a foremost nationalist said to have moved the motion for the nation’s independence.

Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbeshola, who announced this at a press conference in Abuja, also said, of the figure, 70 inmates would be released from Kuje Maximum Custodial Centre

“After the release of the first phase, the committee will continue to meet regularly to consider those who deserve the benefit,” he said.

He said after the release of the first batch, the committee would meet regularly to consider those deserving of the gesture.

The minister listed the criteria for the release to include; inmates that were 60 years’ old and above, those suffering from ill-health and likely to terminate in death, convicts serving three years and above and have less than six months to serve, inmates with mental health issues, and inmates with options of fines not exceeding N50, 000 and have no pending case.

“Using these criteria, a total number of 2,600 inmates spread across our various custodial centres qualify to benefit from the amnesty,” Aregbesola said.

“These include 885 convicts who could not pay their fines, totalling N21.4 million, which the government will pay on their behalf to enable them get their freedom. From this number, 41 inmates are federal convicts, two of which have been granted pardon,” he said

The minister further said: “We will proceed from here to Kuje custodial centre to release the 41 in a symbolic gesture of the freedom that have been given to 2,600 inmates across the federation. The governors of the 36 states under whose jurisdiction the inmates were incarcerated will complete the exercise in line with our federal principle.”

Apart from the late Bendel state governor and Enhaoro, the minister said Buhari also pardoned Mr. Moses Effiong, Mr. E.J. Olanrewaju, and Mr. Ajayi Olusola Babalola.

Speaking at the parley, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the United Nations had called nations of the world to reduce the number of inmates in custodial centres in compliance with the social distancing occasioned by COVID-19.

Malami, who described the flag-off of the 2020 presidential pardon as historic, said the process of selecting beneficiaries started in 2018, even as he urged beneficiaries to stay off crimes and be of good conduct.

The minister, who noted that 70 per cent of inmates were awaiting trial, also called on relations and friends to receive the pardoned inmates with open arms into their folds.

https://blueprint.ng/why-buhari-granted-enahoro-ambrose-ali-others-amnesty/

Good gestures, go and sin no more.

Nobody loves corruption and looting, like Buhari.....

Of all the rogues in the Second Republic, it is ironic and demonic that one of the best and hard-working governors of that Republic-Ambrose Ali was the only one who was imprisoned by this same Buhari, and whose sentence stood until this day.

People of this age and time need to understand that there were National rogues from the North during these times like the Umar Dikkos from North et al.

Isn't it funny that there aren't any Northern names included on this list of old school politicians like the Enahoros and Alis?

A leopard indeed never changes his spots.

Anyone, particularly from the old Bendel State, will tell you how Ambrose Ali was one of the best among his peers of the second republic.

Who could have forgotten the era of " this book is the property of the Bendel State Government- NOT FOR SALE" crested on all school books across all levels.

The funniest yet painful part of all these is that people who benefited hugely from Ali's government abound in this same bigot and lopsided administration, the likes of Ovie Omo Agege and the Minister of State for Labor (Festus Keyamo).

I wonder if people are expected to rejoice at this news.

Ambrose Alli was incarcerated for crimes he never committed and rather than tender an unreserved apology to his family you insulted them with a pardon. What a government!

B

Just release people cos of covid 19

You turned it to politics

l

Naijagoodman:
Ambrose Alli was incarcerated for crimes he never committed and rather than tender an unreserved apology to his family you insulted them with a pardon. What a government!

This buhari is one of the worst things to have happened to Nigeria

Reason is simple.

Playing politics with covid 19.

Ordinary decongest your prisons cos of covid 19.

What stopped him from giving him pardon in all our national days. Why not wait for democracy day?

Covid 19 is for the living so one wonders if Buhari have covenant with dead people