The federal government of Nigeria on Thursday, April 14, 2022 extended the prerogative of mercy to 159 persons convicted for various offences against the state.
The national council of state however rejected a request for pardon for Francis Atuche, a former managing director of Bank PHB, who was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for fraud.
Atuche was, in June 2021, convicted of N25.7 Billion fraud. Following his conviction, Lateefat Okunnu, judge of an Ikeja high court, had sentenced Atuche to six years in prison.
The name of the former Bank PHB boss was among the 162 names presented to the council of state for clemency.
However, Atuche did not make the final list of 159 offenders granted pardon by the council.
Today’s meeting marks the fourth time the president will preside over such meeting, with the first being held on October 21, 2015; the second on September 7, 2016; and the third held virtually in August 2020.
The council of state is an organ of the federal government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy-making matters.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation; Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, and Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president were among those present at the meeting on Thursday.
Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, and Abdusalami Abubakar were among the former presidents and heads of state who were physically present. Others attended the meeting virtually from their various locations.
As part of resolutions in the council of state meeting, the federal government will confer National Awards to 434 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour.