Gov Adeleke Grants Amnesty to 36 Convicts to Mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day

To mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has granted amnesty to 36 convicts serving jail terms at the Nigerian Correctional Service centres in Ilesa and Ile-Ife.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo.

According to the statement, the Governor exercised his constitutional powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), following recommendations from the Osun State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.

In a proclamation dated September 24, 2025, and issued under the Governor’s hand and the Public Seal of Osun State, Adeleke ordered the remission of all remaining sentences and penalties for the 36 convicts.

“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Paragraph (a) Subsection (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution, and acting on the advice of the Advisory Council of State, I am graciously pleased to extend my mercy to the said thirty-six (36) convicts,” the proclamation read.

The statement added that all punishments, legal consequences, and restrictions resulting from the convictions had been lifted, and the amnesty would serve as a sufficient warrant for immediate release.

The beneficiaries include 29 inmates from the Ilesa Correctional Centre and 7 from the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre. Most were serving time for non-violent offences such as theft and conspiracy and had reportedly completed a significant portion of their sentences.

List of Pardoned Inmates

From Ilesa Correctional Centre: Kehinde Ganiyu, Isiaka Mohammed, Oluwatosin Femi, Adebisi Adeniyi, Rotimi Paul, Oyewole Sunday, Ojo Adewale, Tajudeen Ridwan, Jokotola Quadri, Akinola Taofeek, Onibukun Adebisi, Azeez Afeez, Abdulgafar Quadri, Udoh Monday O., Babawale Saheed, Olasunkanmi Wasiu, Adetoro Toheeb, Mudashiru Lawal, Ismaila Wahab, Yinka Oyeniyi, Olaniyan Taofeek, Sheu Mumini, Ololade Bashit, Musibau Abdulkareem, Jamiu Sulaeeb, Jeremiah Ayuba, Abimbola Samad, Oladeji Tosin, and Mathew Samuel.

From Ile-Ife Correctional Centre: Yusuf Ola, Oyedeji Sunday, Ojo Olaoluwa, Ogunola Rafiu, Ayomide Amos, Usman Adefisan, and Adedigba Abiodun.

Speaking on the decision, Governor Adeleke said the amnesty reflects the principles of compassion, justice, and renewal.

“As a government of the people, we remain committed to upholding justice while extending mercy to deserving citizens. This amnesty is not just an act of freedom, but a call to true rehabilitation and reintegration,” he stated.

He added that the move aligns with the administration’s efforts to support reformation and reintegrate ex-convicts as productive members of society.