As part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration, the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has granted pardon to six (6) inmates serving at the Nigerian Correctional facility in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. The clemency is granted from the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy recommendation headed by the Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Benue State, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Esq.
, ACArb. Among the six freed inmates is Mr Umar Dansabe, who has spent over fourteen years in the correctional facility, hails from Makurdi Local government area and was, by the Judgement of the Benue state High court, sentenced to death by hanging. Mr Danasabe had, in an Armed Robbery operation, collected a handphone from a woman at Gyado villa in Makurdi and sold it at sixteen thousand Naira (N16,000).
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim Esq, ACArb, Said section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) empowers the Governor through the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy to pardon some inmates who have shown genuine change and remorse by exhibiting good character worthy of cohabiting with other members of society to be reintegrated. The executive governor of Benue state explained that the action was based purely on the recommendation and testimonies of people, which cut across the clergy and good-spirited .