Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pardoned 56 inmates from various Correctional Centres in Lagos.
Among those pardoned are Mrs Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bello.
Mrs Funke Akindele-Bello is a celebrated Nollywood star. She is the lead act in Jenifa Diary, a popular soap opera which documents the life of Jenifa, a school dropout turned hairdresser.
A statement signed by Kayode Oyekanmi Director, Public Affairs, Lagos Ministry of Justice, said “Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the release of 56 inmates from various correctional Centres and granted State pardon to who are both non-custodial convicts for offences related to the disobedience of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
The statement quoted the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, saying “ Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu acted based on the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
Under the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 212 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended says the 56 released inmates were recommended by the Advisory Council after due examination of their case files and consideration of the length of time served, the gravity of offence, old age and ill-health among other parameters.”
The Attorney General has also enjoined the beneficiaries to be good citizens and stay away from crime.
The eight-member Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, headed by Dr Abayomi Finnih was inaugurated by Sanwo-Olu in December 2019.
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