Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has granted clemency to 27 inmates serving various sentences in correctional facilities across the state as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Key Highlights
- Governor Uba Sani granted clemency to 27 inmates in Kaduna State.
- The latest exercise brings the number of beneficiaries since May 2023 to more than 500.
- The Kaduna Government said it has spent over ₦300 million on fines and compensation since 2023.
- Officials said the clemency exercise is linked to rehabilitation and restorative justice.
- The state government said it would support the reintegration of eligible former inmates into their communities.
The announcement was made by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, in a statement issued on Friday.
Maiyaki said the latest intervention involved the release of eligible inmates, as well as the payment of fines and compensation.
According to him, the administration has committed more than ₦300 million since 2023 towards settling fines and compensating victims as part of its restorative justice approach.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip, said the exercise continues the governor’s practice of extending mercy on significant national occasions, including New Year celebrations, Democracy Day and previous Independence Day celebrations.
Kanyip said the prerogative of mercy is exercised through established processes that take into account accountability, rehabilitation and the responsibilities associated with freedom.
“The beneficiaries are expected to return to society with a renewed sense of responsibility and appreciation of their obligations to others,” he said.
He explained that the exercise goes beyond the release of inmates, noting that the payment of fines and compensation was also intended to remove financial barriers that could keep eligible individuals in custody while recognising the interests of victims.
According to the commissioner, the approach gives the clemency exercise a restorative justice dimension.
“Public safety, human dignity, rehabilitation and the possibility of redemption should form part of the administration of justice,” Kanyip added.
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The Kaduna State Government said it would continue to support the rehabilitation, reconciliation and reintegration of eligible former inmates into their families and communities.
The clemency exercise in Kaduna comes as several Nigerian states mark the 2026 Independence anniversary with similar interventions involving inmates.
Governors in some states have exercised their constitutional powers of mercy based on factors including good conduct, age, health, remorse and rehabilitation. More information on the constitutional powers of state governors regarding the prerogative of mercy can be found in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Sani’s administration has described its clemency exercises as part of an approach that seeks to combine accountability and public safety with opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration. For the latest updates, follow us on X.
