Members of Gaba Community in Lavun Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State has kicked against the unconditional State pardon granted to 11 persons sentenced to death by the Justice Maimuna Abubakar of the State High Court for culpable homicide of seven farmers from the community.
The Chairman of the Association, Paul Gana, raising fears over the development said the pardon by the Governor may trigger another conflict and called on the State Government to withdraw the pardon and respect the court judgement.
Recounting the gruesome murder of the 7 Farmers by the convicts, the Chairman of the Gaba Community, Paul Gana, said the victims were attacked on the Farm in 2018 by the convicts, during which seven people were killed and two others were injured.
He added that after vigorously pursuing the case for four years, Justice Maimuna Abubakar of the State High Court in a 779-page judgement on February 2, 2022, found the 11 convicts guilty of conspiracy and culpable homicide and sentenced them individually to death by hanging.
But Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, granted the 11 convicts unconditional State pardon, recently as announced by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mu’azu, saying the State pardon was in exercise of the constitutional power of the Governor.
He explained that the convicts were involved in a communal clash between the Gaba and Amfani communities of the Lavun local government area of the state, which led to the loss of lives and property.
According to him, the State pardon was also part of the reconciliatory efforts to ensure lasting peace between both communities, adding that several meetings were held, and all issues had been resolved, a move the community denied being part of.
The Community is therefore calling for the immediate review of the pardon saying it will further escalate issues.
For the community, the pardon will set a bad precedent for justice in other communities, as the area is largely known for communal and land dispute clashes.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
