Aiyedatiwa pardons 40 prison inmates to celebrate 60th birthday
Tamarauemi Ebimini
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pardoned 40 prison inmates.
This, the governor said, is to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to justice reform and reintegrating convicts into society.
According to the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo (SAN), the pardon highlights the governor’s dedication to mercy and rehabilitation.
The pardons, granted on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, include the outright release of 15 convicts effective Sunday, 12 January 2025.
A statement titled, “Aiyedatiwa Pardons 40 Prisoners to Celebrate 60th Birthday,” and signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed the development.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Aiyedatiwa, whose 60th birthday falls on the same day.
In addition to the releases, several death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, while other inmates had their sentences significantly reduced.
Dr Ajulo, who also chairs the advisory council, explained that these decisions were informed by careful deliberations, considering the nature of offences, the inmates’ age, health, behaviour, and duration of incarceration.
“This compassionate gesture underscores Aiyedatiwa’s unwavering commitment to extending grace and mercy to these convicts,” Ajulo stated.
“It represents a vital component of his administration’s ongoing justice sector reforms. The signing of the release orders coincides with the governor’s 60th birthday, marking a significant occasion with an act of grace,” the statement said.
The governor’s act of mercy coincided with a sombre moment for the state, as the governor chose to forgo birthday celebrations in honour of the late Secretary to the State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi (Tukana), who passed away last weekend.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa’s actions align with Section 212 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers state governors to exercise the prerogative of mercy.
