12 convicts serving time for various offences have been granted pardon by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye.
He revealed that the pardoned convicts comprised 10 people who were serving sentences of three years and above, with six months or less to serve.
He went on to note that the other two convicts that were pardoned “were convicts who were released on the ground of age.”
Similarly, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has granted pardon to 16 prison inmates at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) Makurdi.
This was made known by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa.
He explained that the decision to pardon the inmates was based on the directive of the Federal Government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He further disclosed that 11 out of the 16 pardoned inmates were individuals who could not pay the option of fine during their conviction.
The remaining 5 are those who have just a few months to complete their prison sentence.