Gov Bello Pardons 24 Inmates, Pays N20m Judgement Fines

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has granted state pardons to 24 inmates and paid fines for 80 others that had not been able to pay their judgement fines of N20 million.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasara Danmallam, disclosed this Friday while handing over the affairs of the Ministry of Justice to its permanent secretary.

“As a parting gift, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has granted pardon to 24 inmates across the state under his powers of the prerogative of mercy. Some of them have been on the death roll whose sentences have been commuted to a few years of prison term,” he said.

The commissioner further that six of the beneficiaries were civil servants convicted of fraud and other related offences and were dismissed in connection with their cases.

“Other beneficiaries of the pardon by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello are six dismissed civil servants who are now reinstated. Those of them who have attained retirement age are now to be retired with full benefits.”

Mr Danmallam said the governor also expended N80 million to pay judgement fines for 80 inmates as part of a humanitarian gesture to the underprivileged individuals before handing it over on Monday.

Taking stock of the activities of the ministry, the commissioner said 115 bills and legal instruments were promulgated into law and expressed profound appreciation to the staff of the ministry for the success recorded under him.

Also speaking, the director of the department, Maro Mohammed Mann, said the office received 1, 500 cases from 2020 and resolved 1, 400 of them to reunite with their families.