Forty prisoners will breath the sweet air of freedom from today, January 12, 2025, as the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved their release to commemorate his 60th birthday.
The decision, according to the governor’s spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, was announced by Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who also chairs the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The pardon, Ajulo said, was a byproduct of a recommendation by the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, an action, he emphasised, that underscores Aiyedatiwa’s “dedication to fostering a justice system that prioritizes reform over retribution.”
Among the fortunate beneficiaries, Adeniyan further stated in his release, while 15 convicts will enjoy outright release effective from January 12, 2025, several death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment, while others will have their terms of incarceration reduced.
According to Ajulo, the signing of the release orders coincides with the governor’s 60th birthday, “marking a significant occasion with an act of grace.”
Informing that Aiyedatiwa also decided cancel activities marking the milestone in honour of the late Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi (Tuykana), who died last weekend, Ajulo said his principal’s decision to pardon the convicts was in accord with Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The Council’s deliberations were enriched by insights from correctional authorities, legal experts, and esteemed community members, focusing on the nature of the offenses, duration of incarceration, age, health, and behaviour of the inmates,” Ajulo remarked.
“This compassionate gesture underscores Governor Aiyedatiwa’s unwavering commitment to extend Grace and Mercy undo the said convicts which representsde a vital component of his administration’s ongoing Justice Sector Reforms,” the attorney general added.
