Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has granted pardons to 12 inmates at the Correctional Centre in the state as part of the New Year celebrations.
Among those granted amnesty is one Dennis Yogbo, who was dismissed from the state civil service in 1995 due to an offence that led to his imprisonment.
Yogbo had spent 29 years in the prison before he was granted pardon on Sunday.
The governor, who said that the aim was to among others decongest the prison, explained that the inmates were released based on the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.
Alia charged the released inmates to be of good behaviour as they step out of prison to integrate with society.
He also charged them to make use of the skills acquired while in custody to better their lives.
He said, “Give your society the very best. And as for the gentleman whose dismissal has been converted to termination of appointment, don’t take any elements of life for granted. Demonstrate your newness in your society.”
Alia added that the act of mercy was premised on his administration’s desire to offer the best to the people of the state just as he expressed worries that most of the inmates were young persons who shouldn’t be anywhere near the prison.
He added, “I will make provision for better welfare for you here but this shouldn’t be home for you, I am quite shocked to see the faces of many young people here where there are a total of 525 inmates including 25 females – one with a baby, others who came in with pregnancy.”
The governor also directed the Attorney General of the state to increase the number of members of the advisory council, to hasten the processes for effective administration of justice.