Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Friday released 46 inmates from the five Correctional Service centres in the state.
Six others on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
The development followed the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
A statement signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, stated that the approval for the release of the inmates was also in line with the commitment of the governor to decongest Correctional facilities in the state as part of the Justice Sector Reforms.
The statement said the governor signed the release and committal orders on September 28, 2022, in cognizance of the country’s 62nd Independence day celebration.
It further stated that the exercise was conducted pursuant to the provisions of Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended).
The statement explained that the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy in reaching its recommendations “exercised due diligence in its deliberation of the applications in line with the applicable guidelines.
“The Council took note of the information provided by the correctional authorities, the nature of offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioral conduct of the inmates.”
