There was ecstasy at the Christ Embassy in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State on Sunday when four of the 32 prisoners granted pardon on October 1 by Governor David Umahi declared that they had become born again Christians.

Their decision immediately opened doors for them as Umahi, who was present during the service, announced their inclusion in his administration’s empowerment scheme. He also offered them N1 million to secure accommodation and to begin a new life.

The pardoned inmates are Orji Ukpai, Tom Ukpai, Etta Ukpai and Simeon Ukpai, who were convicted for murder.

Also granted clemency on October 1 was their grandfather, Pa. Solomon Ukpai. But unlike his grandchildren who now breathe the air of freedom, Pa Ukpai died while serving the jail sentence at Enugu Prisons. His children and grandchildren say they would seek the release of his remains for burial in their community, Oso-Edda.

Umahi had through the Pastor of the Church, Eunice Oyeyemi, charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by dedicating their lives to God, whom, according to him, had given them a second chance.

Oyeyemi said: “I want to remind you that this is the second time in life that God is giving to you. And this second chance, you have to use it for him. I am sure when you were in prison a lot was going on in your minds.

“I learnt you lost your grandfather, an old man who was part of this case. From now on, move on serving the Lord and do good to all men. Shun wickedness, evil and violence. From now on become instruments of peace, everything good and God will restore back to you all that the enemy had stolen from you.

“The governor has asked me to inform you that he will be giving you N1 million. With that, you can start up your lives afresh. He has also asked me to tell you that you are included in government's empowerment programme.”

The freed inmates had earlier in a written testimony, recounted the crisis that led to their incarceration and thanked God for using Governor Umahi to save them.

The testimony reads: “On 14th April 2007, during the House of Assembly and governorship elections our uncle was an aspirant of PPA. He went to cast his vote and they beat him up and there was crisis which resulted in nine of us being taken to the Abakaliki Prisons.

“On the 2nd of March 2016, out of the nine, five were convicted and one of us is late (age above 100 years). God used our able governor to grant us pardon unconditionally, including the corpse of our (grand) father on the 1st of October 2016. We can’t thank him enough. Our beloved governor has been an instrument of our deliverance from years in prison. Today, we are members of Christ Embassy Church filled of the Holy Ghost.”

The pardoned inmates later spoke after the service through their nephew, Chukwu Ndukwe John, who was among the nine but was discharged by the court and acquitted.

He said: “On March 2 this year, I was in the court but my brothers were convicted and I was discharged and acquitted. I said, God my joy is not complete, because I can’t come out there as a freeman and my elders are left behind in prison custody.

“That day was Wednesday; I said I was not going anywhere because, as it stands in the state, we don’t have a place to stay. Our house was demolished. On Sunday, I ran to church and I met our pastor and she gave me hope and said they will never die because of that case. I held unto her words, saying Amen.”

John described the gesture of Governor Umahi to them as ‘God in action,’ stressing that when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice.

He promised that none of the freed persons would ever get involved in anything that would go against the law of the land.

Describing the experience of his relations in the prison as heart breaking, he assured that the freed persons would worship God throughout the days of their lives.

•Photo shows the pardoned convicted murderers.

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