Dare Babalola
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has granted amnesty to 36 convicts serving sentences at the Nigerian Correctional Service centres in Ilesa and Ile-Ife to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
His Adamawa counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri also granted amnesty to six inmates to mark Democracy Day in the state.
Adeleke announced his decision on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed in Osogbo.
The statement said, “Governor Adeleke exercised the powers conferred on him under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), following the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
“In a proclamation dated September 24, 2025, and issued under his hand and the Public Seal of Osun State, the Governor extended his mercy to the convicts, officially remitting the remainder of their sentences.
“WHEREAS, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria has granted amnesty to the convicted persons listed and attached hereto, who are subject to the jurisdiction of Osun State,” the document read in part.
“NOW KNOW YE THAT I, Senator (Dr.) Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Paragraph (a) Subsection (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and acting in accordance with the Advisory Council of State designated under Subsection (2) of the said Section, am graciously pleased to extend my mercy to the said thirty-six (36) convicts,” the statement added.
The list of beneficiaries included 29 inmates from the Ilesa Correctional Centre and seven from the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre.
Those released from the Ilesa facility included; “Kehinde Ganiyu, Isiaka Mohammed, Oluwatosin Femi, Adebisi Adeniyi, Rotimi Paul, Oyewole Sunday, Ojo Adewale, and Tajudeen Ridwan.
Other beneficiaries were, “Jokotola Quadri, Akinola Taofeek, Onibukun Adebisi, Azeez Afeez, Abdulgafar Quadri, Udoh Monday O., Babawale Saheed, Olasunkanmi Wasiu, Adetoro Toheeb, Mudashiru Lawal, Ismaila Wahab, Yinka Oyeniyi, and Olaniyan Taofeek.”
Additional names included: “Sheu Mumini, Ololade Bashit, Musibau Abdulkareem, Jamiu Sulaeeb, Jeremiah Ayuba, Abimbola Samad, Oladeji Tosin, and Mathew Samuel.”
From the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre, the convicts who received amnesty were: “Yusuf Ola, Oyedeji Sunday, Ojo Olaoluwa, Ogunola Rafiu, Ayomide Amos, Usman Adefisan, and Adedigba Abiodun.”
“As a government of the people, we remain committed to upholding justice while extending mercy to deserving citizens. This amnesty is not only a gesture of freedom but also a call for true rehabilitation, reintegration, and a fresh start for these individuals,” the Governor stated.
On his part, Fintiri, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, said the inmates serving various jail terms across five correctional centres in the state were pardoned on Tuesday.
Wonosikou noted that the governor exercised the powers conferred on him by section 212 (i)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor Fintiri also commuted the death sentence of another inmate to life imprisonment.
The CPS explained that seven inmates were serving their terms in Yola old, Jada, Numan, Mubi, and Jimeta Correctional facilities.
“Governor Fintiri acted in line with the recommendation of the Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
“Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s decision is part of efforts to decongest some of the overcrowded correctional centres in the state” the statement added.
