Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has approved the release of forty-six inmates from various correctional facilities across the state.
Sanwo-Olu also commuted death sentences of six inmates to life imprisonment.
His approval is based on recommendations of Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo says the approval is in demonstration of the governor’s commitment to decongesting correctional facilities as part of the state’s justice sector reforms.
Onigbanjo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, notes that the approval is in celebration of Nigeria’s sixty-second Independence Anniversary.
According to him, the exercise is in pursuant to the provisions of Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Amended).
The Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, in reaching its recommendations, exercised due diligence in its deliberation of the applications in line with the guidelines.
The council took note of information provided by correctional authorities, the nature of offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioural conduct of the inmates.