By Jennifer John
Imo State Government will constitute its Committee on Prerogative of Mercy without delay.
The state Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha disclosed this while speaking during the flag-off of the Reformation and Reorientation Programme for juvenile offenders at the Imo state headquarters of Nigeria Correctional Services in Owerri.
The governor said he will do anything required or him by law to remedy the plight of the juvenile prisoners and promised to get proper advice from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice on the best way to help them.
Governor Ihedioha promised that his government will not leave any stone unturned in efforts to reform juvenile offenders and reintegrate them to become useful members of the society.
He said the government will collaborate with faith-based organizations to find the best way of reforming, re-orientating and re-integrating the young offenders into society.
The state’s helmsman appreciated the Nigerian Correctional Services for its efforts so far in trying to effect positive changes and impact good moral standards on the juvenile offenders.
In his goodwill message, the member representing Nwangele in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Chyna Iwuanyanwu promised that the legislators will render any assistance required from them to bring succour to the juvenile offenders.
The Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Anthony Obinna and the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, were represented at the occasion.
Earlier in her speech, convener of the event and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Information and Advocacy, Lady Adaora Onyechere said that reformation and reorientation are the best responses to offenses committed by juveniles.
The SSA said the essence of the programme was to evaluate what needs to be done towards reforming the minds of young offenders with a view to re-integrating them into the society.
