The Federal Government has begun enlisting names of prison inmates for pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari.
An 11-man Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy is going round correctional centres in the six geo-political zones to determine the inmates that qualify for pardon.
Chairman, Committee and Attorney-General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), revealed this during the visit of the committee to Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Malami, who was represented by the Acting Director of the Criminal Justice Reform in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, said the committee had visited Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja, followed by the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos and that the committee would visit Kirikiri Maximum, Medium and Female custodial centres.
She said: “We are going round the correctional centres in the six geo-political zones in the federation. At Kuje, we looked at over 40 cases, they are going to be processed, there would be series of meetings to look at it, access it and make recommendation as appropriate.”
Mrs Ayoola-Daniels went on: “We are to interview inmates and see those who qualify to be granted pardon by Mr President. We started with Kuje, Abuja Correctional Centre, this is our second and next correctional centre is Kirikiri.
“Our own job is just to recommend after looking at all the criteria and see those that can be recommended. Our recommendation will go through the National Council of State and they would make the final recommendation to Mr. President.
“When we are through with the six geo-political zones, we would put all our reports together and forward it to appropriate quarters,” she said.
