New Year pardon: El-Rufai orders release of 12 prisoners

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has ordered the release of 12 convicts from correctional centres in the state.

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adekeye, special adviser to el-Rufai on media and communication, said the decision was based on the constitutional powers conferred on the governor on the recommendation of the advisory council on prerogative of mercy.

Adekeye said the pardoned convicts comprised 10 people who were serving sentences of three years and above, with six months or less to the end of their term.

Adekeye added that the other two convicts were released on the grounds of age.

“Gabriel Olugbenga was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment for culpable homicide on June 23, 2016. He is 60 years old. He has six months left to serve and he was expected to be released on June 23, 2021,” he said.

“Tunde Ikuenaya was imprisoned on November 16, 2017, for four years for criminal misappropriation. He is 64 years old and he is expected to be released on March 16, 2021.

“El-Rufai has also commuted the prison sentences of three convicts to five years, being long term prisoners who had served ten years and above and have shown good conduct.

“Ifeanyi Chiebuike Nweke, Mohammed Mamman Santare and Samaila Danjuma were convicted and sentenced at various times for culpable homicide.

“The governor also commuted Joshua Yashim’s death sentence to life imprisonment. The convict was sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide on June 9, 2011.

“He has been in prison custody since 2007 when the offence was committed and has spent 13 years there. He did not appeal due to lack of funds.”