The Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), on Friday, reviewed cases of convicted in-mates at the Port Harcourt Federal Prisons.
The committee conducted the review process in the presence of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkanra and the Solicitor-General of Rivers State, Mrs Florence Fiberesima.
The Committee Leader, Mr Williams Alo commended the Rivers State Government and the State Judiciary for the cooperation that made the review process possible.
He lauded the Chief Judge of Rivers State for her outstanding commitment to the administration of justice, which has made Rivers State a national reference point.
According to him, the committee is an administrative panel established to assist the President in the discharge of his responsibility of granting pardon to deserving persons and ex-convicts as provided in the constitution.
In her remarks, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara called on the Federal Government to improve the conditions of the nation’s prisons and take steps to create spaces in the corrective centres.
Justice Iyaye-Laminkanra commended the efforts of the Federal Government to de-congest the prisons.
She stated that the Rivers State Government has also taken steps to de-congest prisons in the state and informed that last year, Governor Wike paid fines for over 200 in-mates who thereafter regained their freedom.
“Last year, I went on jail delivery to Port Harcourt and other prisons and I released about 80 in-mates who were deserving of the gesture. This year by November, I intend to embark on prisons delivery in the state “, she said.
