Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Wednesday pardoned 31 prisoners and commuted the death penalty passed on one other convict to 21 years’ imprisonment, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ismaila Uba-Misili, said.
The statement disclosed that the convicts got clemency from the governor, following recommendations by state Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Zubair Umar.
“The Council had earlier received 71 applications by convicts serving sentences in Gombe Medium Security and other Custodial Centres at Bajoga, Billiri, Cham and Tula.
“The Council took into consideration the age of applicants, 50 years and above; young persons, 16 years and below; persons serving 3 years and above with less than 6 months to serve; and record of good behaviour.
“Others are persons suffering from terminal illnesses and those serving long term sentences and have served more than 10 years with record of good behavior,” the statement noted.
