Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has reconstituted the state
Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy with a charge to its members
to approach their assignment with due diligence, commitment and
transparency.
The council has as its Chairman, the Attorney General and Commissioner
for Justice of the state, Chief Miletus Eze, and the State Director
of Civil Litigation as Secretary.
Other members are Dr. Cletus Ozordiulu Eze, ACP, Suleiman Isa Ketare
and Abba Benedicta Chinyere. Other members are Hon. Sylvanus
Chukwuma Anioke, Mrs. Cordelia C. Onah and Godwin Ike.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House,
Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the reconstitution of the council
was in keeping with the power conferred on him by the constitution of
Nigeria.
In his words, “By Virtues of Section 212 Sub-Section 1 of the 1999
Constitution as amended a Governor of the state has power to pardon,
grant respite, substitute severe punishment or revert any punishment
for any person committed of an offence.”
He however added that the powers of the governor under the aforesaid
section of the constitution can be exercised after consultation with
the advisory council of the state on Prerogative of mercy.
He said that the law establishing the council indicated that members
of the council shall hold office for 4 years, adding that the present
members of the council had been in office since 2010, hence the need
for the reconstitution of the new members.
In his words, “by section (4) of the Advisory Council on Prerogative
of Mercy Law, a member of the council shall hold office for four
years.”
In a speech, the chairman of the council, Chief Eze thanked Governor
Ugwuanyi for given the members of the council the opportunity to
serve.
In his words, “I thank your Excellency immensely for giving us the
opportunity to serve.”
He added that with the caliber of members of the Advisory Council that
they would deliver.
The event was witnessed by state top government officials including
the deputy governor of the state, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the
speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi and the Vice
Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Prof.
Luke Anike among others.