10th April, 2020
PRESS RELEASE:
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON: INCLUDE 54 SOLDIERS AMONG BENEFICIARIES – MURIC
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday Thursday, 9th April, 2020, ordered the release of 2,600 inmates of Nigeria’s correctional centres. This move has already been hailed by an Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The commendation came on Friday, 10th April, 2020 in a press release issued by the director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola who described the president’s action as timely and humane.
However, MURIC reminded those who are to implement the presidential pardon to include the 54 soldiers of the Nigerian Army who are currently serving a 10-year jail term for requesting for better weapons to fight Boko Haram.
“Some of the 54 soldiers are in Kirikiri and Ikoyi correctional centres. We urge the presidential team to visit those places. The war against terror will remain shady until the authorities give justice its prime of place. Funds meant for the purchase of weapons were being diverted to private pockets while our soldiers were stinted of vital equipment. Nobody knew about this fraud until the 54 soldiers cried out. It led to the exposure of the $2.1 billion armsgate. But instead of hailing the 54 soldiers as heroes of the land, they were clamped in jail. We hereby appeal to the committee handling the implementation of the presidential amnesty to consider them.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
