In celebration of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, set six prisoners free and commuted to life, three others on death row.
He signed two Executive Orders to that effect on Wednesday.
Media aide to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, who disclosed this in a statement said the two Orders – Executive Commutation of Death Sentence Order and Executive Grant of Clemency Order – will take immediate effect.
Beneficiaries of the Christmas benevolence include: Muhammed Abdulkadri, Moses Akpan and Sunday Okondo whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment and Bestman Dennar, Wasiu Jimoh, Augustine Opara, Folakemi Osin (Female), Rebecca Danladi (Female) and Nkechi Ogechi (Female) who were set free.
According to the statement, the governor signed the orders following recommendation from Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
Speaking on the two orders at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, Sanwo-Olu called on Nigerians to return to God with hearts of gratitude for His protection over the country and Lagos State noting that in spite the numerous challenges facing the nation, it kept growing stronger.
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“As a nation and as a state, it is only appropriate for us to count our blessings and reflect on those things that have happened to us in the course of the year and how we can improve them and be better citizens.
“For us as a state, it is also a season of giving back, so I have also signed a small release of some convicts that we have in the various prisons.
“People who have been given death sentences have been reduced to life sentences and some who have been jailed for minor offences have also been given warning and I have asked for them to be pardoned.
“I want to send out a message to Lagosians that this is a season of peace. Let us live peacefully and do things in moderation.
“Let us understand that even while we are celebrating, we must do it with modesty and with a lot of decorum. Let us all remain peaceful, law abiding and humble,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Orders have been delivered to the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), who would deliver them to the Prisons Service for immediate action.
