The 16 prison inmates convicted by the Imo State Judiciary have lauded the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for his compassion in granting them amnesty during Nigeria’s 54th Independence Anniversary.
Some of the freed inmates, who spoke at the Owerri Prisons while signing their Bond of Good Conduct, expressed joy that they have been given an opportunity to re-unite with their families and pledged to be of good conduct in the society.
Addressing the inmates of Owerri Prison, the Chairman of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and Attorney General of the state, Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN) who was represented by the Secretary of the Committee, Jude Nwokonkwo, said the event was to properly document the process of their release.
He assured them that government has made plans to assist in their rehabilitation.
The Comptroller, Imo State Prison Command, Ifeanyi Amaliri, said the occasion was to formalise the release of the 16 inmates granted prerogative of mercy after five years.
He commended the Imo State Government for its magnanimity and enjoined the inmates to refrain from crimes.
One of the freed inmates, Austin Chukwuemeka, who was convicted for life but had spent 17 years, wrote a book while in prison entitled, “Stay Afloat in Righteousness While in Prison.”
Another beneficiary, Chinedu Ogbonnaya, also serving life imprisonment term but had spent 16 years said his vision is to carry out enlightenment campaign to educate the youths on the consequences of crime.
