President Muhammadu Buhari has granted amnesty to five ex-convicts among whom are late Professor Ambrose Alli, late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Ex Lt. Col Moses Effiong, Major E. J Olanrewaju, and Mister Ajay I. Olusola Babalola.
President also granted a presidential pardon to 2,600 inmates nationwide with 70 inmates from Kuje Correctional Centre as beneficiaries.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced the development during a press confress in Abuja on Thursday.
According to minister, a committee chsrged with the responsibility of recommending beneficiaries will be meeting from to time to evaljate more possibilities.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, saif the United Nations had called the nations of the world to reduce the number of inmates in custodial centres in view of social distancing attitude.
While describing the flag off of the 2020 presidential pardon as historic, Mr Malami said the process of selecting beneficiaries started in 2018.
He also urged the community to open their hands and receive the beneficiaries without stigmatisation.
He lamented that 70 percent of inmates in Nigeria’s correctional centers are awaiting trial.
