The federal government is planning to grant presidential pardon to convicts serving various jail terms across custodial centres in the country.
The objective is to decongest prisons.
To this end, the government on Wednesday inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as chairman.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 11-man new committee on Wednesday in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, said Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) confers special powers of prerogative of mercy on the President.
According to him, this power enables the president to grant pardon to any person convicted of an offence created by an Act of the National Assembly.
“The committee has a four year tenure and its membership drawn from relevant line ministries, departments and agencies as well as representatives of religious bodies, and four eminent Nigerians,” Akume said.
He added that the institutional representative on the committee are Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chairman; Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter- Governmental Affairs; representative, Nigeria Police Force; representative, Nigerian Correctional Service; Representative, National Human Right Commission; Representative, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and representative, Christian Association of Nigeria.
Other members of the committee are Justice Augustine B. Utsaha, Prof. Alkasum Abba, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN; Prof. (Mrs) Nike Sidikat Ijaiya; while the Director, Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs is the Secretary of the committee.
“It is important to reiterate that the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will serve as the Chairman of the Committee, while the Secretariat of the Committee is domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs where the Director in charge of Special Duties in the ministry serves as the Secretary.
“The committee will play a critical role in supporting the dispensation of justice in relation to the decongestion of correctional facilities, particularly in ensuring that eligible and deserving prisoners and ex-convicts are recommended for the consideration of the president.
“In the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, the Prerogative of Mercy is therefore, a vital component of a just and compassionate society, providing a safeguard against injustice and promoting rehabilitation and human rights,” Akume stated.
