Council of State approves presidential clemency for 175 convicts

By Egena Sunday Ode

The National Council of State (NCS) has approved the presidential clemency granted to 175 prisoners.
Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the National Council of State meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Gov Sani was joined at the briefing by his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodinma
The governor said: “Today, again, there was a proposal based on the recommendation by Mr. President through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on the report by the advisory committee on prerogative of mercy to the Council of States for its approval. After the deliberation, the council approved unanimously for the different categories of the prerogative of mercy. The total is about 175. Of the total recommended for presidential clemency were about 82, those recommended for reduced sentence for their terms of imprisonment are 65 and those recommended for reduced sentences from death to life imprisonment are about seven in number.
“So the total number is 175 unanimously approved by the Council of State as recommended by Mr. President and presented to the council by Minister of justice and attorney General of the Federation.”
Sani also disclosed that the nomination of the new Chairman of Nationa Population Commission (NPC) Dr Yusuf Aminu was endorsed by the Council as as well as that of the Federal Cimmissioner representing Yobe State, Alhaji Tonge Betara Bularafa.
“The chairman of national population commission that was appointed based on the approval of the Council of State, unanimously is Dr Aminu Yusuf from Niger state, as well as the federal Commissioner representing Yobe state, in Person of Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa, who is also appointed today and unanimously approved by the Council of State,” he said.