Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has granted amnesty to 36 inmates serving various prison terms in the state, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
In a statement by spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, the convicts, drawn from the Nigerian Correctional Service facilities in Ilesa and Ile-Ife, were freed following recommendations by the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In a proclamation signed on September 24 and made public, Governor Adeleke said the gesture was in the spirit of compassion and national renewal.
“By this act, I remit and release unto them all pains, penalties, and punishments whatsoever that may have accrued from their convictions,” the governor declared. “This amnesty is not only a gesture of freedom but also a call for true rehabilitation, reintegration, and a fresh start for these individuals.”
Most of the beneficiaries, both men and women, were serving sentences for minor offences, including stealing and conspiracy, and had already served substantial parts of their jail terms.
Those released include Kehinde Ganiyu, Isiaka Mohammed, Oluwatosin Femi, Rotimi Paul, Oyewole Sunday, Tajudeen Ridwan, Akinola Taofeek, Onibukun Adebisi, Azeez Afeez, Abdulgafar Quadri, Udoh Monday, and 26 others.
Governor Adeleke, who described the move as part of his administration’s commitment to justice tempered with mercy, urged the pardoned inmates to seize the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.
