Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ondo State Counterpart Rotimi Akeredolu have exercised their prerogative of mercy as they set free 94 and seven inmates serving various jail terms, in their respective states.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Monday, ordered the release of the 104 inmates in the five custodial centers located in the state.
According to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, the governor signed the release order on December 28 based on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Onigbanjo said: “The Advisory Council relied on information provided by the correctional authorities, the nature of the offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioral conduct of the inmates.
“The approval for the release of the inmates is in line with the commitment of the Lagos State Government to decongest correctional facilities in Lagos State as part of the Justice Sector Reforms.”
Similarly, the Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner of Ondo state, Charles Titiloye, in a statement, stated that the governor ordered the release of seven inmates and also reduction of jail term of eleven other inmates.
Titiloye said: “The decision of the governor was under the recommendation of the state Advisory Council on the prerogative of Mercy that the inmates have undergone reformation at the Correctional centre and they are of good conduct.
“The governor also reduced the period of imprisonment of eleven inmates.
“Seven of the inmates, sentenced to death by hanging, have their convictions reduced to life imprisonment while the years of imprisonment of the remaining four inmates were reduced.”
