Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Sunday freed 40 inmates and commuted six death sentences to life imprisonment.
He said the gesture was in commemoration of the June 12 Democracy Day anniversary and the need to decongest the Correctional Centres across the state.
Abiodun announced this in his remarks at the Democracy Day event held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the state capital.
He said “In commemoration of June 12 and in the exercise of my powers under section 212 (sub 1 and 2) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and section 4 and 5 of Ogun State Advisory Council of the Prerogative of Mercy Laws, 2006, I have approved the committal to life imprisonment of death sentences of six convicts.
“Furthermore, I have also approved the early release of 40 others. It’s my hope that this symbolic gesture would make the beneficiaries turn a new leaf and have a fresh opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of our dear nation.
“This is also in recognition of the commitment of government at all levels to aid the decongestion of our Correctional Centres,” he said.
The governor also paid glowing tributes to MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
According to him, there is no gainsaying that the struggles of June 12 as orchestrated by MKO gave birth to the seamless democracy we now enjoy in Nigeria.
“It is our joy that, in the last 23 years, our dear great Nation has continued to witness continuous civil democratic dispensation and its dividends. That is the fruit of the sacrifice that MKO and other real democrats have made for us. This we cannot forget” he said.