Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura on Saturday granted amnesty to a 17-year-old nursing mother and eight other prison inmates on grounds of age.
Al-Makura granted the pardon when he visited Lafia Prison as part of the activities to celebrate the country’s 56th Independence Day and 20 years of the creation of the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Yusuf Usman said that the pardon was in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said that the gesture was part of the activities lined up for the country’s 56th independence celebration and the 20th anniversary of the creation of Nasarawa.
Al-Makura added that the exercise was carried out based on the recommendations of the committee on prerogative of mercy.
The governor said the gesture was to decongest the prisons and give the inmates a sense of belonging and the opportunity to contribute their quota positively to national development.
“Today, on behalf of the Nasarawa State Government, I am freeing nine inmates from the five federal prisons in the state.
“This is part of the state government’s support to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in decongesting the prisons as well as to make the inmates responsible members of the society,” Al-Makura said.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to partner with the ministry of interior in improving the conditions of the prisons.
The governor said that he was particularly touched by the case of the nursing mother who gave birth to the baby 10 months ago.
He said that since the offence was committed by the mother, the innocent baby who did not know anything should not be in the prison.
“The 17-year-old nursing mother, Justina Musa, who was convicted for joining a secret society, was reprieved of her one year sentence under the prerogative of mercy, while eight other inmates are at ages ranging from 12 to 20 years,” he said.
