No fewer than 58 inmates, including a 73-year-old grandmother, have been pardoned by the Cross River State Government at the three custodial centers in Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja.
The exercise which was part of the annual state prerogative of mercy exercise was given by the Cross River State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme after reviewing their cases.
Justice Ikpeme who visited the three custodial centers across the state, charged the Magistrates to be more circumspect before taking any action in every case brought before them.
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The Chief Judge advised the freed inmates to have a change of attitude towards their dealings, by always obeying the laws of the land.
She described the exercise as a dream fulfilled by looking at the cases of those sentenced and the ones awaiting trial and reviewing them where they need to be aroused including that of the 73-year-old grandmother who was jailed for forgery but could not regain freedom after the two-year sentence.
The breakdown of the inmates pardoned according to the information obtained from the Ministry of Justice by AIT.live shows that 42 inmates were set free from the Afokang Custodial in Calabar, six in Ikom, and 10 in the Ogoja facility.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
