Governor Ododo Inaugurates Seven- Member Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy

By Abubakar Shuaibu. A

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has inaugurated a seven-member Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy in accordance with Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Secretary to the Government of Kogi State (SGS), Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade, who inaugurated the Council on behalf of the Governor at her office in Lokoja on Wednesday, charged members to make appropriate recommendations on pardon, respite and commutation of sentences for the consideration and approval of the Governor.

Mrs. Ayoade said the members were carefully selected based on their track records of service, expertise and integrity.

According to her, her visits to correctional centres in Kabba and Koton-Karfe had exposed her to cases involving inmates whose circumstances required closer attention and possible intervention.

She said the establishment of the Advisory Council was therefore timely, expressing confidence that its members would bring their wealth of experience to bear in making appropriate recommendations for the exercise of the Governor’s prerogative of mercy.

“I therefore have confidence that the carefully selected members will put their expertise together to put forward recommendations for mercy to the Governor within the shortest time possible,” she said.

The SGS commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. M.Y. Abdullahi, SAN, for his commitment to duty and efforts toward ensuring the effective operation of the Council.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. M.Y. Abdullahi, SAN, thanked Governor Ododo for approving the establishment of the Advisory Council.

He explained that the Council was “established pursuant to Section 212 of the Constitution, which confers on the Governor the power to grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offense created by any law of a State a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions”.

Mr. Abdullahi assured that, with the calibre and expertise of members of the Council, the body would work diligently and expeditiously to make appropriate recommendations to the Governor.

Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated Council, Mr. Raphael Babatunde Bello, Esq., thanked the State Government for finding the members worthy of serving on the Council.

He assured the government that members would work assiduously in line with their terms of reference and submit their recommendations within the shortest possible time.

The seven-member Advisory Council is chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. M.Y. Abdullahi, SAN.

Other members are:
Hon. Justice E.O. Haruna — Retired Judge, Kogi State Judiciary;
Liman Salihu, Esq. — Nigerian Bar Association;
Dr. Barnabas Segun Isaac — Ministry of Health;
ACP Idrisu Muhammed — Nigeria Police Force;
Mohammed Hadi Yusuf, Esq. — Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Kogi State Chapter; and
Mr. Raphael Babatunde Bello, Esq. — Christian Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter.