COVID-19: Buhari Grants Presidential Pardon To Prisoners

Some inmates in Custodial Centres of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) are expected to be granted a presidential pardon to decongest the facilities.

The Herald gathered that the move became expedient to control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Although the categories of inmates to be released under the presidential pardon are unclear, the exercise is expected to commence in Abuja today. The Kuje Custodial Centre, where some high-profile inmates like former Abia governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, former PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh are kept, is in Abuja.

Recall that the Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola disclosed last week that he met the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to work on a proposal for presentation to the president on decongestion of the custodial centres.

After this disclosure, President Muhammadu Buhari was rumoured to have granted amnesty to some inmates, sparking a riot at the Kaduna Custodial Centre, and reportedly leading to the death of four inmates.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 276 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country as of April 8