Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has granted
a state pardon and freed up to 34 prisoners
serving various jail terms at the Calabar prison
to mark the 50th anniversary of the state.
Ayade in his anniversary speech on Saturday in
Calabar said that the pardon was in the spirit of
the celebration and based on the provision of
section 212 of the 1999 Constitution.
He said:
“In the spirit of the celebration and the
powers vested on me by the 1999
Nigerian Constitution, I hereby grant
clemency to the following category of
people serving various jail terms in the
state. “They are five people on death
row; 16 prisoners serving life sentences;
four prisoners who are above 60 years of
age; nine convicted criminals who are
terminally ill and may likely die any
moment if not granted pardon.’’Prodding
further, the governor stressed the need
for the people to always remember past
leaders of the state who had made
considerable efforts in moving the state
to greater heights.
He said that in spite of the great challenges that
have bedeviled the state, there was the need for
the people to have hope for a greater future.
According to him, the state has excelled in many
fields of endeavors including tourism, agriculture,
and forest preservation, adding that the annual
Calabar Carnival has become the greatest street
party in Africa.
“I, therefore, call on you to stick together as we
look forward to a greater tomorrow, ‘’ he said.
As part of the celebration, Ayade had earlier
signed into law eight bills passed by the State
House of Assembly.
The laws include Administration of Criminal
Justice in Cross River; Citizen Right, Cross River
Inland Water-ways, Cross River Scrap
Regulatory Agency, Cross River Lottery; Hawkers
Right; Emergency Management Agency, and
House of Assembly Commission.
The governor also called on the people of the
state to pray for the quick recovery of President
Muhammad Buhari.
Source: Vanguard