The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Aisha Dikko, has disclosed that only two prisoners have so far fulfilled the requirements of new guidelines of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy of Kaduna state.
The commissioner who made this known in a statement, further disclosed that the names of nine prisoners were presented for state pardon by the Kaduna Command of Correctional Services while four requests were from private individuals.
Giving the breakdown, she said that the Correctional Service presented four prisoners who were serving jail terms of 10 years and above and have shown good conduct.
‘’The Correctional Service also presented the names of five inmates who are serving sentences of three years and above but have six months or less to complete their jail terms,’’ she further said.
Aisha Dikko also said that ‘’they were four private requests to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna sate, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, for clemency which were also considered.’’
‘’At its last meeting which held on the 8th June, 2022, the Kaduna State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, which was chaired by the Attorney General, recommended only two names for pardon, out of the total list of 13 inmates that were presented,’’ the statement added.
According to the commissioner, members of the council comprised the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Chief Registrar of Kaduna State Judiciary and Acting Director of Public Prosecution of the Justice Ministry.
The statement further said that representatives of the state Director of Department of State Services, Kaduna State Command of Correctional Service and the Police Commissioner, were also at the last meeting.
The commissioner of Justice further stated that a convict can only enjoy clemency or state pardon once, according to the guidelines of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
The Attorney General who chaired the meeting where the decisions were taken, said that the council’s recommendations will be forwarded to Governor Nasir El-Rufai for a final decision to be taken, before the names of those who have been pardoned, will be made public.
