Governor Ademola Adeleke grants amnesty to 36 inmates in Osun State as part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence celebrations, urging justice, mercy, and renewal.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a compassionate gesture, granting amnesty to 36 inmates serving jail terms in the state.
The announcement was made by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, who said the release covered convicts held at the Nigerian Correctional Service facilities in Ilesa and Ile-Ife.
The move followed recommendations by the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and was executed under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In a proclamation signed on September 24, 2025, Governor Adeleke invoked his constitutional powers to release the beneficiaries.
“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… am graciously pleased to extend my mercy to the said thirty-six (36) convicts,” he declared.
The governor explained that the beneficiaries, made up of both men and women, were mostly convicted for minor offences such as stealing and conspiracy. Many had already served significant portions of their sentences.
Speaking on the symbolic nature of the amnesty, Adeleke said the gesture represents compassion, justice, and renewal in line with the spirit of Independence Day.
“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,” he said.
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