Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State Government, through the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, on Friday pardoned 14 inmates of the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos State, who have been imprisoned over 20 years for various offences, while 20 others on death row had their punishment converted to life imprisonment.
Handing over the order for the release of the inmates signed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the prison authorities, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), said that the development was pursuant to Constitutional provision which provides for the constitution of an Advisory Council and grants the Governor power to grant clemency to convicted persons on the advice of the Council.
“Prerogative of Mercy is a right recognised under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 212(2) of the Constitution provides that the powers conferred on the Governor under Section 212(1) shall be exercised by him after consultation with the Advisory Council of the State on the Prerogative of Mercy as may be established by the Law of the State,” Kazeem stated.
He said the inmates were considered to benefit from the prerogative of mercy after due examination of their case files, which revealed that they have been reformed and ready for re-integration into the society.
Kazeem, who is also a member of the Council, specifically congratulated the inmates, and advised them to be of good conduct outside the prison.
Chairman of the Council, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, added that beside its power under the Constitution, the setting up of the Council also serves as a way of de-congesting the prisons.
He also congratulated the beneficiaries of the clemency by the Governor, and urged them to avoid acts that led to into prison in the first place.
The Controller of Prison in charge of Kirikiri Maximum Prison, DCP Emmanuel Oluwaniyi, commended the State Government, especially, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for the efforts to de-congest the prison.
Oluwaniyi, who was newly deployed to the State, said it was, particularly, gratifying that he was commencing his stewardship in the State on a good note with the release of inmates who are due to be re-integrated into the society. He also admonished them to be of good conduct outside the prison.
In addition to Oyewo and Kazeem, other members of the Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy include Adedotun Adetunji, Mrs. Musili Onasanya, Olumide Oniyire,Chris Okoye, Mrs. Bolatumi Animashaun, and Mrs. Yemisi Ogunlola (Secretary).