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Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has granted executive clemency to 94 inmates and approved sentence remissions for seven others as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
Governor Ododo announced the decision in his Independence Day address on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following recommendations by the Kogi State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
According to the governor, the beneficiaries were considered based on factors including old age, medical conditions, good conduct, remorse, rehabilitation, time already spent in custody, family and community support, public safety and the broader interests of justice.
The governor said the Advisory Council, chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Muizudeen Yunus Abdullahi, SAN, reviewed the cases, examined relevant records and visited correctional centres across the state.
Among those granted mercy were inmates considered on old-age and medical grounds, including 91-year-old Lamidi Mohammed Garuba, as well as others suffering from various health conditions.
Seven other inmates had their sentences reduced under the remission category, with their new terms ranging from three to eight years from the date of conviction.
Ododo said the exercise of the prerogative of mercy did not diminish the seriousness of the offences committed, describing it instead as an exercise of constitutional compassion based on rehabilitation, remorse, humanitarian considerations, public interest and the possibility of responsible reintegration into society.
He urged the beneficiaries to regard the clemency as a second chance and to return to their families and communities as responsible citizens.
The governor also called on residents, particularly young people, to reject criminal activities including kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud, cultism, drug-related offences and other forms of violence.
Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, human capital development, mining, tourism and economic empowerment.
On Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, the governor called for national unity, peace, hard work and patriotism, while urging Kogi residents to put the interests of the state above political, ethnic, religious and social differences.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its economic and development reforms, including efforts in infrastructure, agriculture, education, energy and investment.
Ododo said his administration would continue to work with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to build a more prosperous Kogi State and contribute to Nigeria’s development.
“Politics will come and go. Administrations will come and go. But Kogi State will remain our common home,” the governor said, urging residents to protect and invest in the state.
