By Osahon Osahon
Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has released Emejor Amos, a prison inmate, at a Correctional Center in the state was sentenced to death.
Four other inmates on death row had their sentences converted to life imprisonment by the governor.
The four prisoners whose sentences were transmuted from death row to life imprisonment are Ayo Olofin, Abiodun Uwagboe, Sanni Ladan and Joel Ighalo.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, on Thursday, said the approval was based on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy in the state.
Osagie in the stated noted that the approval was in exercise of the powers conferred on the Governor under section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
It would be recalled that Obaseki in June last year, approved the release of eight prisoners who were on death row and transmuted the death penalty of nine others.
Those freed were “Abu Dennis Ulubeka (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offence of Murder; Tirimisiyu Adebayo (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offences of conspiracy and Armed Robbery; Tajudeen Fabiyi (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offences of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery; and Olufemi Ajayi (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offences of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery.”
Others were “Charles Omowunmi (M) found guilty for the offence of murder and was ordered to be detained in prison at the pleasure of the Governor; Kalu Ojeh (M) convicted and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on each count, both sentences to run concurrently for the offences of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery; Mathew Idoko (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offence of murder and Robinson James (M) convicted and sentenced to death for the offences of conspiracy and Armed Robbery.”