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As part of New Year activities, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa approved the release of 77 inmates from correctional facilities across the state.
The State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy recommended the pardons, and the governor acted on the advice to grant clemency to the affected convicts.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 1, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the decision formed part of events marking the January 1, 2026, New Year celebration.
He hinted that the move underscored Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to rehabilitative justice, compassion and giving offenders a second chance.
The governor stressed that the justice system must balance accountability with mercy, particularly for inmates who have shown genuine remorse and the capacity to reintegrate successfully into society.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, who chairs the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, outlined the process leading to the recommendations.
Ajulo said the council assessed factors including the nature of offences, time already served, conduct in custody, age and health, level of rehabilitation, prospects for reintegration, and reports from correctional and legal authorities.
He commended the governor for personally reviewing each case before approving the recommendations.
The approved measures include the outright release of 12 inmates who displayed exemplary conduct and served substantial portions of their sentences.
The state also commuted death sentences for 22 inmates to life imprisonment or fixed terms, reduced life sentences for several others, and granted lesser sentence reductions to additional beneficiaries.
Ajulo described the gesture as an act of profound mercy and progressive leadership that prioritises rehabilitation over punishment while reaffirming the governor’s commitment to justice sector reform, decongesting correctional facilities and restoring hope among inmates willing to reform.
