Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has granted clemency, releasing 10 inmates and commuting four death sentences to life imprisonment.
The state controller of correctional service, Abdulraheen Salami, revealed this in a statement issued by the command’s public relations officer, Olanrewaju Anjorin, in Ibadan, and made available to journalists on Thursday.
Mr. Salami further stated that 15 additional inmates had their sentences reviewed downward, while another four were granted conditional release under the governor’s signed clemency order.
The four inmates granted conditional release were undergoing degree programs in the National Open University at the custodial centers and would be released upon graduation.
The controller highlighted that Governor Makinde’s compassionate gesture provides forgiveness and hope to dozens of incarcerated individuals across the state.
He emphasized that this effort will significantly boost the morale of all the inmates and encourage them to participate in various vocational and academic training programs in the facilities to rebuild their lives.
Mr. Salami also mentioned that the Nigerian correctional facilities located in Ogbomoso, Ibadan, and Oyo Town currently house at least 1,800 inmates.
These facilities offer substantial rehabilitation and skills-building programs daily, aiming to reintegrate citizens into society.
NCoS officials are actively processing the required paperwork to promptly begin discharging the approved inmates.