Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan has granted state pardon to a 77-year-old man, Dickson Umukoro, and two others, as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.
Uduaghan, using his power of prerogative, in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution freed condemned septuagenarian, 53-year-old Monday Tom and an unnamed adolescent, who were sentenced to death seven years ago.
Others pardoned by the governor include Dele Mokwunye, Ufuoma Paul Eto, Moses Orakpor, Uche Dike, Jonathan Igbi, Chukwuemeka Igwebuike, Chijioke Edeh, Augustine Okoroh and Joshua Musa, all sentenced to varying prison terms.
Umukoro and Tom who were awaiting the gallows were freed based on their good conduct.
Edeh, Okoroh and Musa however had their death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
Commenting on the development, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), commended the governor for the kind gesture. He said it was a rare one from Uduaghan.
“The governor acted pursuant to his power of prerogative of mercy and in the spirit of the celebration of Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary,” Ajuyah noted.