FEDERAL government has granted amnesty to 2,600 inmates in the nation’s correctional centres and undertaken to pay fines totaling N21.4 million for 885 convicts who couldn’t pay fines given to them as option to jail terms.
The amnesty by the federal government was considered with a view to decongest Nigeria’s Custodial Centres vis-à-vis measures against the outbreak and continued spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the society.
However, the directives emphasized that the presidential amnesty does not apply to inmates convicted and sentenced for terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and other violent offences.
In view of this, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has directed the governors of the 36 States under whose jurisdiction the inmates were incarcerated to complete the exercise in line with the federal principle.
The presidential amnesty extended to five politically convicted persons including the Late Prof Ambrose Alli; governor of the old Bendel State in the second Republic from 1978 to 1983, and Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, a foremost nationalist who first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in 1953 which was eventually granted in 1960. Other three beneficiaries are Ex Lt.Col. Moses Effiong, Major E. J. Olanrewaju and Ajayi Olusola Babalola.
