The Kogi Government has inaugurated a seven-member Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy to advise the governor on the exercise of his constitutional powers to grant pardon, respite and commutation of sentences.
Gov. Ahmed Ododo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, inaugurated the council on Friday in Lokoja.
Ododo charged the members to make appropriate recommendations on cases deserving of pardon, respite and commutation of sentences for his consideration and approval.
He said the members were carefully selected based on their track records of service, expertise and integrity.
According to him, visits to correctional centers in Kabba and Koton-Karfe revealed cases involving inmates whose circumstances required closer attention and possible intervention.
Ododo described the establishment of the council as timely, expressing confidence that its members would bring their wealth of experience to bear in making appropriate recommendations.
“I therefore have confidence that the carefully selected members will put their expertise together to put forward recommendations for mercy to the governor within the shortest time possible,” he said.
The governor commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Muiz Abdullahi, SAN, for his commitment to duty and efforts toward ensuring the effective operation of the council.
Speaking at the inauguration, Abdullahi thanked Ododo for approving the establishment of the advisory council.
He explained that the council was established pursuant to Section 212 of the Constitution, which empowers a state governor to grant pardon to persons convicted of offenses created under state law.
Abdullahi assured that, given the caliber and expertise of its members, the council would work diligently and expeditiously to make appropriate recommendations to the governor.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Mr Raphael Babatunde Bello thanked the state government for finding the members worthy of serving on the body.
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Bello assured that the council would work assiduously in line with its terms of reference and submit its recommendations within the shortest possible time.
Abdullahi chairs the council. Other members are retired Justice Ezekiel Haruna; Liman Salihu of the Nigerian Bar Association; Dr Barnabas Isaac of the Ministry of Health; ACP Idrisu Muhammed of the Nigeria Police Force; Mohammed Yusuf of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Kogi Chapter; and Babatunde Bello of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kogi Chapter.
