The Minister of Special Duties in Nigeria, Senator George Akume has urged the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to tread with caution when screening ex-convicts to be granted presidential pardon.
According to him, the call is necessary to avoid releasing unrepentant criminals back into the society thereby causing more problems for the people ¬!VEW2AQQ.
The Minister stated this during a meeting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
Senator Akume also urged the Presidential committee to do what is required constitutionally in discharging their mandates.
“I would like to use this forum to remind members again that the objective of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, PACPM, is to interview, select and determine convicts and ex-convicts to be granted pardon for onward recommendation to the National Council of State’’ he said.
Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who is the Chairman of the committee said the move is in line with government’s determination to decongest Correctional Centres in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
’’ Following Mr. President’s directive to all stakeholders to ensure the decongestion of Correctional Centres in the wake of COVID-19 Pandemic and the glaring consequent danger posed to the Custodial Centres nationwide’’ he said.
About 320 applications for pardon have been submitted by relatives of some ex-convicts to the committee.
Hauwa Abu
