Benue Gov. Alia frees 12 inmates, grants dismissed Civil Servant State pardon

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia on Sunday freed 12 inmates at the maximum Nigeria Correctional Centre in Makurdi and granted one person State pardon.
Dennis Terwase Yogbo who was dismissed from the state civil service in 1995 by the then Joshua Obademi adminiatration, had his dismisal converted to termination of appointment was granted State pardon.
The governor’s decision followed the recommendation made by the Benue State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy headed by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim.
The Governor advised the released inmates to be of good behaviours and conduct as they step out of prison to integrate with the society,and also,charged them to make use of the skills acquired while in custody to better the rest of their lives.
“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 into your society,” he said.
Alia added that the act of mercy was premised on his administration’s desire to offer the best to people of the state even as he is worried that most of the inmates were quite young persons who ordinarily shouldn’t be anywhere near the prison.
“This shouldn’t be home for them. I was 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 said.
Earlier, the attorney-general, Mnyim intimated the governor that his 8-man committee did a thorough job to recommend the beneficiaries as deserving mercy for release and pardon in line with section 212 of the Nigerian constitution (1999) for offences they committed against the state.
Mnyim further disclosed that the released inmates were drawn from Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko correctional facilities.
Responding, one of the released inmates, Barnabas Apaav, thanked the governor on behalf of his colleagues and promised to henceforth exhibit good behaviours as they go back to the society.