Sanwo-Olu releases 56 inmates, commutes 1 to life jail

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has released 56 inmates from various correctional facilities across the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), on Tuesday in Lagos.

Pedro added that the governor commuted one inmate on death row to life imprisonment and as well pardoned one inmate.

He said the governor signed the release, commutal and pardon orders on June 25 on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.

“The approval for the release of the inmates was in line with the commitment of the governor to decongest correctional facilities in the state as part of the justice sector reforms,” he said.

The commissioner said the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, in reaching its recommendations, exercised due diligence in its deliberation of the applications in line with the applicable guidelines.

“The Council took note of the information provided by the correctional authorities, the nature of the offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioural conduct of the inmates,” Pedro said.

The exercise was pursuant to the provisions of Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended).