Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has pardoned seven inmates of the state’s correctional centre serving various terms and ordered their release to mark 2023 new year celebration.

The Governor while exercising the power conferred on him by paragraphs (a) (c) and (d) of subsesection (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), directed the Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service in the state to release and set free seven inmates in the facilities of the Correctional Center in the state.

The Governor made this known in a statement signed by Charles Titiloye, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Chairman of Ondo state Advisory Council on prerogative of Mercy.

According to the statement, the decision of the Governor was pursuant to the recommendation of the state Advisory Council on prerogative of Mercy that the inmates have undergone reformation at the Correctional center and they are of Good conduct.

The Governor also reduced the period of imprisonment of 11 inmates.

Seven of the inmates sentenced to death by hanging have their convictions reduced to life imprisonment, while the years of imprisonment of the remaining four inmates were reduced.

The Governor urged the released inmates to see their release as another chance to live a good life devoid of crime.

He called on the good citizen of Ondo state to avoid any act of discrimination against the released inmates and integrate them back to their communities.