Meeting of the Ekiti State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy
- In furtherance of the objectives of the Federal and Ekiti State Governments on preventing the spread of Coronavirus Disease ( COVID-19) in Nigeria, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi has directed the Ministry of Justice to urgently prepare modalities for the further decongestion of the Federal Correctional Center, Ado- Ekiti.
- This directive is based on the reasoning that inmates are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreak than the general population because of the confined conditions in which they live together for prolonged periods of time.
- Against this background, it has become necessary that the Government of Ekiti State take full account of all the rights of inmates in Ado-Ekiti Correctional Center and their families, as well as of all staff and other persons providing support to the facility, including lawyers and service providers, when taking measures to combat the pandemic in Ekiti State.
- In compliance with the directive of Mr. Governor, the Ministry of Justice will convene an emergency meeting of the Advisory Council of Prerogative of Mercy (Council). Council will be invited to: (a) Approve an assessment study of the population of the Ado Ekiti Correctional facility to identify those individuals most at risk, taking account of all particular vulnerable groups; (b) Approve a draft proposal for the reduction of population in the facility, wherever possible including implementing a scheme of early release; (c) Consider a proposal for the review of all cases of pre-trial detention in order to determine whether it is strictly necessary in the light of the prevailing public health emergency in Ekiti light; (f) Approve practical measures to ensure that persons released from the facility are subject to monitoring including requirements of physical address, obtaining credible references and other appropriate non-intrusive monitoring measures.
- Without prejudice to the rules of procedure adopted by the Council at its 2nd Statutory Sitting held on 7th October 2019, Council will be invited to review the cases of all persons in the Ado Ekiti Correctional Center and consider the desirability of the early release of the following four groups of detainees: (a) Persons held in pre-trial detention, particularly those for minor or low-risk offences; (b) Women with children; (c) At risk population such as elderly inmates or those with underlying life threatening health issues; (d) Persons sentenced for minor, low risk offences – particularly those who have 18 months or less remaining of their sentence to serve.
- In furtherance of the commitment of Council to transparency, accountability and public participation in carrying out its functions as prescribed by the Ekiti State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy Law, 2012, NOTICE is hereby given to the General Public that the 1st Emergency Meeting of the Ekiti State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy will be held at the Ministry of Justice Academy on Wednesday 15th April 2020. Persons, organisations and institutions who wish to make representation on behalf of any detainee or convict in the Correctional Center may do so in writing by Email addressed to the Secretary, Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy on mojekiti@gmail .com
Correspondence received after10:00 am on Wednesday, 15th April 2020 will not be considered by the Council.
Applicants are further advised to note the criteria for consideration of applicants as stated in paragraph 5 above.
