Kaduna frees 27 inmates to mark Independence Day - Punch Newspapers

File: Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has granted clemency to 27 inmates serving various sentences in correctional facilities across the state to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary. The exercise brings to over 500 the number of inmates who have benefited from the governor’s prerogative of mercy since he assumed office in 2023. The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday. According to him, the intervention included the release of eligible inmates and the payment of fines and compensation amounting to over N300m for victims since 2023. The statement quoted the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip,  saying that the exercise was part of the governor’s tradition of extending mercy to deserving inmates during major national celebrations. Kanyip said similar exercises were conducted during New Year, Democracy Day, and previous Independence Day celebrations. He explained that the prerogative of mercy was exercised through established legal channels, taking into account accountability, rehabilitation, and the responsibilities attached to freedom. “The beneficiaries are expected to return to society with a renewed sense of responsibility and appreciation of their obligations to others,” Kanyip said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google He added that the state government’s intervention extended beyond releasing inmates to removing financial barriers that prevented eligible prisoners from regaining freedom. Kanyip noted that paying fines and compensation gave the clemency exercise a restorative justice dimension by addressing the interests of victims while helping inmates reintegrate into society. “Public safety, human dignity, rehabilitation, and the possibility of redemption should form part of the administration of justice,” he added. Meanwhile the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, has called on Nigerians to build a better nation as a tribute to the founding fathers who sacrificed their lives and resources for the country’s independence. Omo-Aje made the call in an Independence Day message issued in Kaduna on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule. He described October 1, 1960, as one of the most significant dates in the country’s history, stating that the attainment of independence was the product of years of struggle by nationalists who placed national interest above personal ambitions. The AA candidate paid tribute to Herbert Macaulay, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, among others, for their sacrifices toward national liberation. CAN will criticise govt if citizens’re not protected– President States get N32bn ecology fund amid flood threats My criticism of Christian bodies exposed me to security threats –Rev.Omolehin According to him, although the founding fathers belonged to different political and ideological camps, they were united by the desire to establish a sovereign and prosperous Nigeria. “Sixty-six years after the lowering of the Union Jack, the best tribute we can pay to our founding fathers is to build a nation where peace, justice, and opportunity thrive for all,” he said. “We owe the heroes of our independence a better nation, one where the labour of the past will not be in vain and where our children can grow up proud of their heritage.” Omo-Aje congratulated President Bola Tinubu and members of his cabinet on the anniversary, noting that the administration was steering the affairs of the country at a critical juncture. He described the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a bold initiative aimed at resetting the economy and restoring Nigeria’s global standing. The AA candidate acknowledged that while economic reforms might impose short-term hardships on citizens, the government’s commitment to long-term stability deserved collective understanding and support. He, however, urged the government to use the anniversary for sober reflection on the pressing challenges confronting Nigerians, particularly poverty, inflation, and insecurity. “While we celebrate our independence, we must also engage in sober reflection,” Omo-Aje said. “Millions of Nigerians are still struggling with poverty, inflation, and economic hardship; true independence must go beyond the lowering of the colonial flag to mean freedom from hunger and deprivation.” On national security, Omo-Aje called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to protect lives and property so farmers, traders, and students could pursue their daily activities without fear. He also advocated greater national cohesion, arguing that Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity should serve as an asset rather than a fault line for conflict. The AA candidate prayed for divine guidance for national leaders and expressed optimism that Nigeria would emerge from its current socio-economic challenges as a stronger, more united nation. Godwin Isenyo

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