The Nigerian government has announced its intention to grant presidential pardons to certain convicts in correctional facilities across the country.
To implement this, a Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy was inaugurated in Abuja on Wednesday.
This committee, led by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, includes representatives from the police, correctional services, human rights organizations, and religious bodies like the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Christian Association of Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Reps demand 2024 budget breakdown, audited accounts of TETFund
Legal professionals such as Justice Augustine Utsaha and Prof. Nike Ijaiya are also part of the team.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, explained that the initiative is based on the 1999 Constitution, which gives the President authority to grant clemency to federal offenders.
The committee, with a four-year tenure, will guide the President in this process to ensure justice and fairness.
Fagbemi noted that many applications for pardons have been submitted and promised a thorough evaluation.
The committee will also visit correctional centers in different regions to identify cases deserving of clemency.
After completing their work, they will present recommendations to the President for final decisions.
