Okorocha pardons 94-yr-old prisoner, 15 others

OWERRI—NINETY-four years old Mr. Canice Egbunnane, and Chidi Nwosu, 70, were among 16 prisoners Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State granted state pardon yesterday, as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.The governor said Egbunnane and Nwosu were pardoned on account of their ages, based on the exercise of his powers on prerogative of mercy.He said: “I acted on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, which I earlier set up with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Chief Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh (SAN), as chairman.”He said 11 of the pardoned convicts were imprisoned for non-capital offences and had almost finished serving their prison terms, with less than six months left.The governor said: “Mr. Canice Egbunanne was par-doned on the ground of age. He is 94 years old, while Mr. Chidi Nwosu, also pardoned, is almost 70 years old.
”He said at 54, it was time to address insecurity, youth unemployment, selfishness and corruption.among leaders, lack of patriotism, emphasis on ethnicity, insurgence and other challenges facing the country.