…….Calls for Responsibility.
Emmanuel Ikpeama
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has granted executive pardon to a 91-year-old inmate and 100 other inmates and convicts across correctional centres in the state as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The Governor disclosed this in his Independence Day address to the people of Kogi State on Thursday, October 1, 2026, saying the exercise was anchored on the constitutional prerogative of mercy and guided by considerations of rehabilitation, remorse, humanitarian circumstances, public interest and justice.
Governor Ododo said the Independence Anniversary represents freedom, responsibility and hope, stressing that a society committed to justice must also recognise rehabilitation and the possibility of redemption.
According to him, he inaugurated the Kogi State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy on September 2, 2026, chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Muizudeen Yunus Abdullahi, SAN.
The seven-member Council, he said, reviewed case records, considered representations made on behalf of inmates, examined correctional reports and visited custodial centres in Koton Karfe, Kabba, Dekina, Ankpa, Idah and Okene.
The Council considered factors including age, health, nature and circumstances of offences, period already served, conduct in custody, remorse, rehabilitation, vocational skills acquired, family and community support, interests of victims, public safety and broader interests of justice.
Investigator news reports that out of the 101 beneficiaries, 94 were granted pardon on grounds of old age, medical conditions, good conduct, rehabilitation, remorse and compassionate considerations, while seven had their sentences remitted.
Among those pardoned on old-age and medical grounds were Lamidi Mohammed Garuba, aged 91; Ajagbonna Olufemi David, aged 72; Yakubu Atabo; Chief Umane Okeme; Saidu Atuluku Yunusa; Hilary Chike Nwaeze; Ebenezer Mopah; Abdullahi Jibril; and Usman Ismaila.
The seven beneficiaries whose sentences were remitted are Tunde Adura, Olusaye Moses Abayomi, Abu Mowde, Zakariyau Baba, Michael Ojonugwa, Rami Sadiq and Salawudeen Sanusi.
Governor Ododo stressed that the exercise does not diminish the seriousness of the offences committed, but represents constitutional compassion in deserving circumstances.
He charged the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a second chance that comes with greater responsibility.
“You’ve been given another opportunity, and every second opportunity comes with a greater responsibility,” he said, urging them to return to their families and communities as responsible citizens and not to return to crime.
He urged them to put to productive use the skills, education and lessons acquired during their incarceration.
The Governor also called on the people of Kogi State, particularly young people, to reject kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud, theft, cultism, drug-related offences and other criminal activities, warning that poverty, peer pressure and desire for quick wealth must never be excuses for crime.
He said hard work, education, enterprise, integrity and perseverance remain the legitimate pathways to a meaningful life.
Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies and strengthening the administration of justice, and called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and youth organisations to join government in the fight against criminality.
“The battle against criminality is not a battle that the government can win alone. It is a collective struggle for the soul and future of our communities,” he stated.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his courage in pursuing national renewal through economic reforms and investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, healthcare and youth empowerment, including the recently approved deep offshore investment framework targeted at unlocking up to US$50 billion.
The Governor said Kogi State remains aligned with the national aspiration for a stronger, more prosperous and secure Nigeria, leveraging its strategic location and vast resources in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.
He urged unity among Kogi people and renewed faith in Nigeria, noting that “The Nigeria we desire is possible. The Kogi State we desire is possible. But possibility becomes reality only when hope is matched with action.”
