By Michael Ofulue
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The Authority of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) in Ondo State has commended Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), for granting pardon to 17 inmates who were serving various jail terms across the prisons custody in the state.

It would be recalled that the Governor pardoned the inmates to mark the 58th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria on October 1,2018 in exercise of the powers conferred on him as the Chief Executive of the state as contained in Paragraph (d) of Sub-Section 1 of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Speaking with The Hope in an interview on the release of the inmates at the weekend, the Prisons Public Relations Officer, Barrister Ogundare Babatunde, the Comptroller of Prisons in Ondo State, Barrister Suanu Kinane and his officers and men lauded the magnanimity of the Governor who once again demonstrated his love for the prisons authority in the state.

He said the release of the beneficiaries were sequel to the recommendation of the prerogative of Mercy Adversary Committee who said they were satisfied with their conduct while serving their jail terms in the four prisons custody in the state.

According to him, the release of these inmates has further demonstrated the government’s determination to decongest the prisons in the state, adding that the inmates and their families were indeed grateful to the governor and they have all been reunited with their respective families.

The Prisons PRO hinted that the inmates whom he said have learnt their lessons while serving their jail terms have vowed to be of good conduct and appealed to the general public, especially their immediate family members not to see them as ex-convicts, but as changed persons who have repented from their bad ways.

His words: “It is important to advise the general public, especially the families of the beneficiaries not to look at them as convicts and not to discriminate against them because all of them have learnt great lessons while in the prisons custody.

He said all of them have learnt one skill or the other which will help them to be better citizens and useful to themselves and the society at large.

The prisons spokesman gave the names of the beneficiaries as: Gbenga Akinola, Akinola Kunle ,Bukola Gbeje, Sefa Seun, Adekunle Samson, Dele Joshua, Babatunde Sunday, Felix Osomoje and Stephen okoro.

Others are, Femi Adeniran, Olawale Olabinjo, Kehinde Aderinmokun, Isaac Gabriel, Richard Anthony, Sunni Shaibu and Taiwo Kehinde respectively.

Babatunde said out of the number released, five were from Olokuta Prisons in Akure,four from Owo prisons, one from Ondo and seven from Okitipupa prisons and all of them were serving various jail terms ranging from stealing to conspiracy to wit armed robbery, manslaughter, obtaining money under false pretence among other offences.

He explained that some of them are about to complete their various jail terms which he said ranged from between three and five years depending on the offence saying their release is based on their satisfactory conducts.

While assuring that the prisons authority in the state is committed to ensuring improvement in the health status of inmates in various prisons custody across the state, he called on private organisations, individuals and corporate institutions to assist the prisons as the government cannot do it all alone.

Babatunde who called on the judiciary to ensure expeditious trials hinted that congestion of prisons is one of the major challenges confronting the prisons service in the country.

He appreciated the efforts of his officers and men in taking adequate care of the inmates despite the numerous challenges and urged them not to rest on their oars, but rather be more pro-active in discharging their duty.