The Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki in the exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy, has granted a state pardon to two notorious convicts by having their death sentences commuted to pardon.

The two convicts are Bayo Ajia and Olayinka Are, who were both sentenced to death by the State High Court on charges culpable homicide in March, 2005.

The two pardoned  convicts, it would be recalled, were the ring leaders in the 1999 to 2003 political imbrogolio in the state that culminated in the alleged killings and maiming of innocent citizens.

Dr. Saraki’s exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy vested in him is in line with section 212 sub-section (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In warrant commuting the death sentence to pardon, the governor said, “NOW THEREFORE, I Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Executive Governor of Kwara State of Nigeria in exercise of the power vested in me by section 212 (1) and (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, do hereby order the said Bayo Ajia and Olayinka are pardoned and for so doing this shall be sufficient warrant”.

By this warrant to continue the death sentence to pardon, the two convicts have regained their freedom as law abiding citizens of Nigeria.

The Governor, however, advised the convicts to regard their freedom as a golden opportunity offered to them to reform themselves as they are being rehabilitated back to society.

 He also sound a note of warning to others who might have similar tendency to borrow a leaf from the experiences of the two convicts , who have spent about four years in prison custody before regaining their freedom.

The two convicts are Bayo Ajia and Olayinka Are, who were both sentenced to death by the State High Court on charges culpable homicide in March, 2005.

The two pardoned  convicts, it would be recalled, were the ring leaders in the 1999 to 2003 political imbrogolio in the state that culminated in the alleged killings and maiming of innocent citizens.

Dr. Saraki’s exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy vested in him is in line with section 212 sub-section (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In warrant commuting the death sentence to pardon, the governor said, “NOW THEREFORE, I Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Executive Governor of Kwara State of Nigeria in exercise of the power vested in me by section 212 (1) and (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, do hereby order the said Bayo Ajia and Olayinka are pardoned and for so doing this shall be sufficient warrant”.

By this warrant to continue the death sentence to pardon, the two convicts have regained their freedom as law abiding citizens of Nigeria.

The Governor, however, advised the convicts to regard their freedom as a golden opportunity offered to them to reform themselves as they are being rehabilitated back to society.

 He also sound a note of warning to others who might have similar tendency to borrow a leaf from the experiences of the two convicts , who have spent about four years in prison custody before regaining their freedom.