Ohakim Commutes Death Sentences To Life Imprisonment

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo has commuted to life imprisonment, death sentences passed on four prisoners and ordered the release of seven others.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Henry Ekpe, in a release issued in Owerri last Friday, said the governor also reduced the life imprisonment of four persons to lesser terms.

According to the release, those that regained their freedom are Anselem Akalonu, Chilaka Onyeulo, Chinedu Chukwuma, Friday Anyingo, Effiong Essi, Elendu Okorie and Emmanuel Anyanwu.

Those, who had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment were Samuel Akpa, Ikpechukwu Ndubuisi, John Okorie and Henry Nwokearo.

Nelson Aliba, Patrick Obinna Okoroafor, Cyracus Uju and Innocent Nweke had their life imprisonment reduced.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ken Njemanze, told newsmen that Ohakim exercised the powers conferred on him by the Constitution.

Njemanze added that the governor exercised the power after due consultations with the Imo State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

In another development, Ohakim said, more than N240 billion is required to tackle erosion problems in Imo State.

Ohakim said this during a radio programme tagged “The Governor Speaks” .

He said that the erosion menace was of very serious concern to the state government and that it had referred the matter to the Federal Government as it could not shoulder the problem alone.

Citing Onuimo Local Government Area as an example, he said it would be cheaper to relocate communities in the area than trying to check the erosion menace.

“But the problem is that you don’t talk about this in Igboland because it is an abomination,” he said.

He attributed the erosion problem in Umunna, Orlu Local Government Area, on the location of the Evan Enwerem University Teaching Hospital in the area without conducting a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Ohakim, however, said that the government was not considering relocating the teaching hospital as rumoured in some quarters, but had adopted measures to check the menace.

On the state university, he said that a bill was now before the state assembly for a law to compel local governments in the state to contribute toward its funding.

He explained that the measure became imperative due to the “huge” funding required to pay university workers the approved new salaries.

Ohakim said that the government would soon relocate the state university to its permanent site.

He criticised the university authorities for exceeding the admission quota approved.