The Ondo state government has pardoned 18 persons serving jail terms for various offences.
Also, the state government commuted the death sentence of seven other inmates convicted of various offences to life imprisonment as part of activities marking the 59th Independence anniversary.
The deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, in exercising his power as the acting governor of the state, in a letter to the Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Services, said the seven inmates convicted and sentenced to death by hanging awaiting execution, should no longer be executed.
A statement by the deputy chief press secretary, Mr Babatope Okeowo, said: “ I Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi, the Acting Governor of Ondo state of Nigeria in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a) (c) and (d) of sub section (1) of section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said condemned inmates and substitute a less severe punishment on the aforesaid inmates as clearly stated in the schedule.”
The 18 inmates, who were set free by the governor’s prerogative of mercy, had served different portions in prison for various offences and had shown remorse during their stay in the correctional facilities.
