NEWS
Sallah: Gov. Badaru pardons 17 Inmates in Jigawa
Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa has pardoned 17 inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in the state.
Hajiya Zainab Baba-Santali, the Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Justice, disclosed this in a statement issued in Dutse on Wednesday.
Baba-Santali said the gesture was to decongest the correctional facilities in the state, especially during this period of the Ramadan fasting and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, has given pardon to 17 convicted persons based on the recommendation of the state Committee on Prerogative of Mercy under the leadership of Dr Aisha Warshu Haruna.
“The inmates have been released from correctional facilities. The pardon is part of the routine policy by the governor to provide succour to inmates who are remorseful,” Baba-Santali said.
“The categories of the inmates vary from those who have committed minor crimes and three young persons that the Jigawa State High Court detained for a long time at the pleasure of the Governor for the offence of Homicide.
“Appreciating the governor’s clemency, the Jigawa Attorney-General (AG), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, said the gesture showed that the governor is compassionate to remorseful inmates.
“The AG added that the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy Committee had done well through meticulous scrutiny of inmates who deserved pardon before forwarding the final list to the governor,’’ Baba-Santali said.
According to her, the Attorney General further appealed to the people of the state to be law-abiding, stay out of crimes, report any suspicious activities to the security agencies and pray for peace and prosperity of the state and Nigeria at large.
At the Hadejia Medium Security/Custodial Centre in Hadejia town, the spokesman of the NCS Command in the state, Mr Sani Jahun, who spoke on behalf of the state’s NCS Controller, Mr Abubakar Guri, said the inmates were pardoned by the governor after they were recommended by the Jigawa Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
Gurin said the freed inmates were those with minor offences ranging from witchcraft, theft, criminal breach of trust, bad utterances and those in detention without trial, among others.
He explained that the beneficiaries were considered based on good conduct, remorsefulness and those who had little period left to serve at the centres.
The controller advised them to be law-abiding and not to indulge in anything that would make them return to the centres.
“What you should do to show your appreciation to the governor is not only to pray for him but to be of good conduct as you rejoin your family and the society.
“You should reciprocate the gesture by avoiding acts capable of disrupting the peace of your immediate societies, the state and the nation at large,’’ the controller advised.
According to him, the gesture is the governor’s annual way to show mercy to people, particularly in the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The three inmates released from the Hadejia facility, Abdu Buji, Buba Khalifa and Maman Adamu, told newsmen that they spent eight years in the facility.
The freed inmates, who were visibly elated, said they had been in detention without trial since when they were ages 13, 14 and 15.
They both promised to be of good character and not to repeat their offence.
“We will never repeat our offence, in fact, we will never go close to it. We thank the governor for the gesture.
“We are happy to be free after spending years in detention and we are happy that we will celebrate this Sallah with our family and loved ones,’’ they said.
Also, commenting, the officer in charge of the facility, Mr Sani Muhammad, said that the three inmates were trained in various income-generating trades during their stay in the custody.
“They learnt how to knit caps and how to make soaps. In fact they produced very fine and quality caps which were sold in town.
“They earn a lot of money through this and they are given all their money as they leave the centre.
“I’m really happy that these three inmates are freed after writing several times on their behalf to the governor’s committee on prerogative of mercy.
He added that they were also given the first jab of COVID-19 vaccine in the facility.
The inmates were given a copy of the pardon letter in case of eventuality.
NAN also reports that of the 17 beneficiaries, nine were released from Kazaure Custodial Centre, three from Hadejia, two from Babura, another two from Gumel and one from Jahun. (NAN)
NEWS
Imo Governor Appoints 16 Special Advisers
From Marcel Duru & Charity Wins, Owerri
Imo State Governor, Sen Hope Uzodimma has approved the appointment of 12 Special Advisers (SAs) as efforts are in top gear to deepen the gains of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government of his second term.
The appointments, according to the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku on Wednesday in Owerri, were with immediate effect.
The newly appointed SAs are: Barr. Leo Awazieama; Joseph Oputa; Mrs. Ijeoma Ikegwuruka; Comrade Austin Chilakpu; Dr. Patrick Uzoma; Dr. (Mrs) Obianuju Nwokejiobi; Chidi Onyewuchi; Andy Chikwe; AND Amarachi Anyaehie.
Others are: Tonia Chimenem Chinda; John Ikeaka; Mrs. Chinyere Emeziem; Mrs. Esther Ukachukwu; Ezechi Chukwueme; Humphrey Ikeaka and Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Pat Ekeji.
Governor Uzodimma congratulated the new appointees and urged them to brace up to contribute their quota in the overall interest of Imo State.
NEWS
CNPP Laments over Rising Food Inflation
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, (CNPP) has lamented the rising state of food inflation in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Chairman of CNPP, Mohammed Kabir Abdullahi in a statement made available to Journalists, fumed that the prices of food stuff and other goods have continued to bite harder on the people of the State.
Abdullahi, who disclosed that Kogi is a Civil Servant state and does not deserve this continuous untold hardship noted that the present economy is toxic on the people.
He stressed that Kogi State having the highest food inflation in Nigeria according to the National Bureau of Statistics report is not only embarrassing but condemnable.
He emphasized that the people of the State are suffering adding that, the present administration should urgently put measures in place to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
” It is not good news as far as CNPP is concerned that Kogi recorded 48.46 per cent, which is the highest food inflation rate in Nigeria followed by Kwara 46.18 percent, while Akwa Ibom was pegged at 45.18 percent.
“Now in Kogi State, when you go to the market, what you will buy at a particular price in the morning will be different from what you will buy with the same goods in the afternoon or evening . The traders didn’t go to the market to buy new products but they will on their own increase the prices just to frustrate the people despite them earning peanuts as their wages. This is unfair and condemnable.
“We are appealing to the government of Kogi State to intervene in the rising state of food inflation. People are really suffering. Kogi State is a Civil servant state and does not deserve what they are getting now. Many traders in Kogi State are using the present economic hardship in the Country to exploit the people.
“This must stop before things get out of hand. The Government must ensure that those who are sabotaging its effort in controlling economic inflation are checked. We know that the present administration under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will do the needful for the people of Kogi State to smile again” he stated.
He, however, appealed to the people to remain calm, promising that CNPP will hold the government accountable for good governance in Kogi State.
NEWS
Benue killings: Benue reps frown on incessant attacks on communities, killings of his constituents
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The member House of Representatives representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Arc. Asema Achado, Wednesday, condemned the incessant attacks on Benue communities and killing of 28 persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen militia in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
Arc. Achado who described the action of the attackers as senseless, expressed deep condolences and solemn empathy to the grieving communities of Tse-Kperyisa, Tse-Adaa, and Tse-Shiver, where innocent farmers were slaughtered by herdsmen. Achado in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mendah Manasseh, said he joined his voice with the Gwer West people in condemnation of the senseless and unlawful attacks..The statement said “the attacks have inflicted immeasurable pain and suffering upon the peace-loving people of Gwer West.”I implored the Benue State Government to urgently intervene by enforcing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, by ensuring that the perpetrators of these barbaric acts face swift and decisive justice.“They should also collaborate with law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible for these heinous crimes against humanity,” he said.”I therefore call on the people of Gwer West to remain steadfast and united in their quest to bring an end to the spate of killings.Achado assures his constituents of his unwavering support and steadfast commitment to championing their cause and advocating for lasting peace and security in the constituency.