President Muhammadu Buhari has granted presidential pardon to the late nationalist, Anthony Enahoro, and former governor of old Bendel State, late Prof Ambrose Alli.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Aregbesola said the gesture meant they were never convicted.
He added that three other high profile persons also benefitted from the presidential amnesty – Ex Lt. Col. Moses Effiong, Major E.J. Olanrewaju and Ajayi Babalola.
The minister also said President Buhari granted pardon to 2,600 inmates of correctional centres nationwide.
Aregbesola, flanked by Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; and Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said 70 inmates of the Kuje Custodian Centre in Abuja would also be released on Thursday as part of efforts to decongest the centre.
According to Aregbesola, the pardon followed recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari by a presidential committee.
He also said the pardon was necessitated by the need to decongest custodian centres across the country due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
