Gov. Godswill Akpabio Pardons 8 Prisoners, Donates N10m To Inmates

Gov. Godswill Akpabio Pardons 8 Prisoners, Donates N10m To Inmates

Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has granted amnesty to
eight prisoners serving various sentences in Uyo, Calabar, Ikot-
Ekpene and Port Harcourt in the spirit of the New Year
celebration.

Akpabio made the announcement when he visited Uyo Prisons on
Friday.

He converted the death sentence of six other inmates to life
imprisonment and also donated N10 million to other inmates for
medical attention.

Those pardoned from Uyo, Calabar and Ikot-Ekpene Prisons were;
Ofonime Udoh, Mbong Udobong, Akpan Akpan, Uweh Okon,
Emmanuel Inyang, Udo Isonguyo, Bassey George and Edem Etim.

The six converted from death to life imprisonment were Ndifreke
Ekanem, Samuel Ekanem, Patrick Ekene, Oduok Jimmy, Charles
Isong and Eyakeno Imoh serving in Port Harcourt Prisons.

He noted that the Nigerian Constitution empowered him to grant
pardon to any prisoner in the country.

“I advise those pardoned to be of good behaviour so that they
will be fully integrated into the society,” he said.

Akpabio, who decried the living conditions of the prisoners,
directed the Controller of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr Regina
Akpan, to liaise with the state Commissioner for Special Duties,
Mr Emmanuel Enoidem for assistance.

Responding, Akpan thanked the governor for the various
donations he had made to the prison.

Akpan also commended the state government for reforming the
prisons service in the state.

“The Uyo prison is made up of 52 females, four babies and two
expectant mothers in addition to 834 inmates awaiting trial.

“We plead that the state government intervenes in the provision
of facilities and renovation of the Uyo Prison,” Akpan said.