By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
No fewer than 113 inmates at the Sokoto Correctional Centre were on Tuesday pardoned by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
However, 67 of the inmates were released unconditionally with a donation of N50 to each by the governor while 22 death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
The gesture was in commemoration with Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
According to the Governor who was represented by the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barrister Nasiru Binji said the pardon was in accordance with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended).
In the same vein, he explained that 22 inmates serving life sentences had their terms reduced to 25 years, and two inmates had their sentences reduced by two years.
Aliyu Sokoto urged the released and pardoned inmates to be good ambassadors of the correctional system as they reintegrate into society stressing that the attitudinal learnt should remain a priority especially those returning home.
“Ensure your life is different from when you arrived and the donation is to help you start life afresh”, he added.
Commending the governor, the Sokoto State Controller of Correctional Services, Lawal Gusau, described the gesture of governor Aliyu Sokoto as an initiative that would bolster efforts at decongesting correctional centres across the country.
