January 01, (THEWILL) – Benue state governor, Revd Fr Hycacith Alia, has granted pardon to a civil servant, Mr Dennis Terwase Yogbo, who was dismissed from the service in 1995 due to an offence that led to his imprisonment.
The Governor, after listening to his case, directed that Yogbo’s dismissal be reversed and converted to termination of appointment.
An elated Yogbo, thanked the governor for his magnanimity, saying he had been in bondage for 28 years and seeking solution to no avail until God, through governor Alia, came to his rescue following the recommendation of the Council on Prerogative of Mercy that reviewed his case.
One of the twelve released inmates, Mr Barnabas Apaav, who responded on behalf of others, thanked the governor and promised to henceforth, exhibit good behaviour as they go back to the society.
THEWILL recalls that the governor, on Sunday, granted pardon to 12 inmates in the Makurdi Correctional Centre in the state, as part of the New Year celebrations.
The release of the inmates was based on the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr Fidelis Mnyim.
The action of the Governor was in line with the powers granted him by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He explained that the aim was to decongest the facility housing five hundred and twenty five of those convicted and awaiting trials.
The Governor directed the Commissioner to increase the number of members of the Advisory Council, to hasten processes for effective administration of Justice.
While admonishing the released inmates to be of good behaviour as they step out of prison to integrate with the society, the governor charged them to make use of the skills acquired while in custody to better 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.”
Governor 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 expressed worry that most of the inmates were young persons who ordinarily should not be anywhere near the prison.
“I will make provision for better welfare for you here but this should not be home for you, I am quite shocked to see the faces of many young people here where there are a total of 525 inmates including 25 females with one with a baby while others came in with pregnancy”, he stated.
Earlier, the Commissioner, Barr. Mnyim, informed the governor that the 8-man committee did a thorough scrutiny of the inmates before making the recommendations.
He pledged to do his best in changing the narrative in the judicial system of the state; disclosing that the released inmates were from Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko correctional facilities.
In her remarks, the Comptroller of Nigeria Correctional Service, Benue State Command, Mrs Mary Oche, acknowledged the efforts of the State Government in ensuring that the inmates do not stay in the Correctional centre more than necessary.
According to her, Governor Alia has given transportation fares to the inmates to get to their respective destinations and enjoy the New year with their loved ones.
Also, Assistant Comptroller, Mathias Dzuzu, appealed to the Governor to extend his power of amnesty to an inmate, Umaru Dan-Asabe, who has perforated intestines, which cannot be managed within the Correctional centre.
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