June 12, (THEWILL) – Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has granted full and partial pardons to 66 inmates serving various prison terms at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre.
The governor, who visited the facility on Thursday as part of activities marking the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, also commuted several death sentences to life imprisonment and reduced jail terms for some other inmates.
Zulum said the gesture followed recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and was aimed at giving the beneficiaries a second chance.
“Based on the powers conferred on me under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, I hereby grant state and partial pardons to 66 inmates of the Maximum Custodial Centre,” the governor declared.
He added, “I have also commuted death sentences to life imprisonment and reduced the jail terms of some other inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Democracy Day.”
To aid the reformation process, Governor Zulum announced plans to upgrade the centre’s vocational training unit.
He directed the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to collaborate with the custodial authorities to enhance literacy, numeracy, and digital skills programmes for inmates.
In a show of additional support, the governor donated 300 bags of rice, 50 jerrycans of cooking oil, and five cows to the centre.
He also provided N20,000 cash to each of the 1,280 inmates to improve their living conditions.
“Let me clarify that the N20,000 cash assistance will be handed over to officials of the Correctional Centre, as stipulated by law, but you will have access to it whenever needed,” Zulum explained.
The governor urged the inmates to uphold good behaviour and contribute positively to the peace and development of the state.
Reacting, the Controller of Borno State Correctional Service, Ahmed Bawa, described the governor’s intervention as unprecedented.
“This is the first time in history that we have received such immense support from the Borno State Government under the leadership of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum,” he said.
“In May, he donated 100 bags of rice, 20 cartons of cooking oil and 10 bulls. Today, he has visited again. We are deeply grateful.”
Also speaking, the Sarki of the inmates, Daniel Simon, thanked Governor Zulum for his generosity, noting that the dividends of good governance were being felt even behind bars.
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