The governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has pardoned seven prisoners who are awaiting execution in the state’s various prisons.
The governor commuted the death sentences of the seven prisoners who were set to be executed to life in prison.
In addition, four prisoners serving various jail terms had their sentences reduced, and seven others were released when it was determined that they had behaved well while detained.
Akeredolu urged the fortunate convicts to make the most of the opportunity to start over and to avoid doing anything that would send them back to the institutions.
Charles Titiloye, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, disclosed in a statement that Akeredolu’s act was done in the spirit of the Yuletide.
“The Governor in exercise of power conferred on him by paragraphs (a) (c) and (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) directed the Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service in Ondo to release and set free, the said seven (7) inmates in the facilities of the Correctional Center in Ondo State.
“The decision of the Governor was pursuant to the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on prerogative of Mercy that the inmates have undergone reformation at the Correctional center and they are of good conduct,” he said.
The governor warned them to behave well and live law-abiding lives.
