The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has approved the grant of total pardon to one Moses Akatugba who was on the death
row and ordered his immediate release in the exercise of his powers of Prerogative of Mercy under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended).
A statement by the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Ajuyah (SAN), stated that Uduaghan acted pursuant to
his powers of Prerogative of Mercy in the Spirit of the Democracy Day celebrations and took into consideration the several local and
international pleas, including those from Amnesty International.
The statement further added that the governor also commuted the sentences of four other prison inmates on death row and severing of
life imprisonment respectively.Those who are to benefit are Williams Aniretan who was sentenced to
death but had his sentence commuted to two years imprisonment and Onyeka Emordi who was sentenced to death but was pardoned and had his
sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
Others are Martin Ishiekwene who was sentenced to death on November 3, 1998 and whose death sentence was earlier commuted to life
imprisonment on July 27, 2010 but had his life sentence commuted to 15 years imprisonment.
Samuel Akpos, who was on life imprisonment as well, had his life sentence commuted to 10 years imprisonment.
It would be recalled that the said Samuel Akpos who was hitherto on the death row, having being sentenced to death on July 5, 1995 but had
the sentence commuted to life imprisonment on August 9, 1997 by the then Delta State Military Administrator, Colonel David Dungs.
According to the statement, the prison authorities have been advised appropriately in the warrant of pardon signed by Uduaghan to effect
the warrants immediately.
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