The Presidential Advisory Commitee on Prerogative of Mercy, North Central Zone, has listed no fewer than 13 inmates of the Federal Prisons Service, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, for possible presidential pardon.

The commiteee, led by its Chairman, professor Bam Angwe, was in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital last week, as part of efforts at decongesting the prison.

Angwe, who doubles as the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, hinted that the Federal Government was determined to reform the prison system.

He added that government was concerned with the large number of persons awainting trial in prisons across the country.

The chairman said similar committees had been sent to five other geo-political zones with a manndate to decongest the prison.

According to him, the committee is going to recommend for presidential pardon, prisoners with proven records of ill-health or terminal diseases.

The chairman said: "We are conducting an audit of inmates in prisons across the country. We will recommend to the presidency to free those that have shown remorse, exhibit exemplary character and good conduct".

He added that certain inmates above the age of 60 years across the country would also be considered for presidential pardon, stressing that the presidency had decided to look at the issue of prison reform with a view to achieving the set goals.

To this end, he said the whole law would be reviewed and a bill sent to the National Assembly for necessary action.

The committee, recieved by Controller of Prisons, Kwara Command, Olanrele Joseph, is saddled with the responsibility of assisting the President in identifying inmaates, who deserve to be granted pardon based on established guidelines.

By Sulyman Yusuf (National Pilot)