President Muhammadu Buhari has granted amnesty to five prominent Nigerians who were convicted in the past.

They are late Professor Ambrose Alli, late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Ex Lt. Col Moses Effiong, Major E. J Olanrewaju, and Mr Ajay I. Olusola Babalola.

The President also granted presidential pardon to 2,600 inmates in a move to decongest prison facilities in the country to curb the COVID-19 virus spread.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known at a news conference at the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abuja.

Aregbesola said the affected inmates include those who are 60 years and above, those suffering from ill-health likely to terminate in death, convicts serving three years and above and have less than six months to serve, inmates with mental issues and inmates with an option of fine not exceeding N50,000.

Aregbesola said: “In a symbolic gesture of the amnesty given to the 2,600 inmates across Nigeria, 41 Federal inmates and 29 FCT inmates making a total of 70 inmates who met the above criteria will be released today from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja.

“This amnesty will not apply to inmates sentenced for violent extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and so on.

“The Governors of the 36 states under whose jurisdiction most of the inmates were incarcerated will complete the exercise in line with the federal principle.”

Rauf Aregbesola also said that after the release of the first phase of inmates, the Committee on Presidential Amnesty will continue to meet regularly to consider those who deserve the benefit.