The federal authorities, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), headed by Lateef Fagbemi, minister of Justice and Legal professional Common of the Federation.

George Akume, secretary to the Authorities of the Federation (SGF), whereas inaugurating the 15-man Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), described the transfer as “important step in direction of selling justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.”

He acknowledged that the inauguration is in keeping with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The committee, which is saddled with the accountability of recommending individuals for pardon to the President, amongst different capabilities, is in keeping with the provisions in Part 175 of the 1999 Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The part confers particular powers of prerogative of mercy on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This energy allows the President to grant pardon to any particular person convicted of an offence created by an Act of the Nationwide Meeting.

The SGF defined that the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy is an administrative physique with the mandate to supply and facilitate a seamless and easy train of the facility by the President.

BusinessDay gathered that membership of the committee have been based mostly on alternatives from a number of establishments of the federal authorities.

They embrace representatives of the Ministry of Justice in addition to Legal professional-Common of the Federation who will function chairman.

Others are Everlasting Secretary, Particular Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; representatives of the Nigeria Police Drive, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nationwide Human Proper Fee, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN).

Different members of the committee are: Augustine Utsaha, Alkasum Abba, Akinlolu Olujinmi and Nike Sidikat Ijaiya, together with
director, Particular Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, who will function secretary of the committee.

In keeping with the SGF, “PACPM inside its four-year tenure will play a crucial function in supporting the dispensation of justice in relation to the decongestion of correctional services, significantly in making certain that eligible and deserving prisoners and ex-convicts are advisable for the consideration of the President.”

In his response, Fagbemi, legal professional – normal of the federation and minister of justice, who serves because the chairman, assured Mr. President that the “committee will ship adequately in aiding him to discharge his constitutional accountability of granting pardon and clemency to convicts or ex-convicts in deserving circumstances and reintegrating them into the society.”