By Onyekachi Eze
A concerned citizen of Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area, Imo State, and former House of Assembly aspirant under the people’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chibuzor Edwin Okolie (CEO), has prayed for the prerogative of mercy of the State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to temper justice with mercy on the inmates at the Owerri Correctional Service center, especially to one Mr. Pius Akuka.
According to his prayers, Mr Pius Akuka was imprisoned over an allegation of armed robbery, and since then had served for over twelve years.
Hon. Okolie made this solemn plea following the governor’s new move to decongest the correctional service centres in Owerri and Okigwe, as the fight against the dreaded coronavirus pandemic is strengthened.
Information made available to Trumpeta Newspaper, Okolie disclosed that Pius Akuka had been there for a period of 12 years, following a case against him by one Chief Obi David Akubukwe, the father of Nzubechi Akubukwe.
The charge number according to him is HOU/7C/2010, between the State Government VS. Nzubechi Akubukwe, and the accused person, Pius Akuka.
Okolie told this newspaper that he had already written a protest letter dated February 24, 2020, copied to the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma; The Chief Judge of the State, and to the Commissioner For Justice/Attorney General Imo State, Barr. COC Akaolisa.
However, Hon Okolie Called on the awareness of the inaugurated Imo State Advisory Council on prerogative of mercy on prison decongestion set up by governor Uzodinma to not only pay attention to the case in an open letter addressed before it, but to temper justice with mercy on the aforementioned inmate.
In a related development, he lauded the administration of Hope Uzodinma for such a wonderful thought of granting pardon to some inmates, aimed at ensuring that the centers are decongested, and with accelerated hearing.
