86 Osun Convicts On Death Row In Ogun, Lagos Prisons

• As Adeleke Refuses To Establish ‘Board Of Mercy’ For Amnesty

About 86 convicts from Osun State are in dire and unbearable conditions as a result of overcrowding in the death row section of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, especially in Lagos and Ogun States.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the convicts are presently in Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta and Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.

This, according to findings, is due to the unavailability of a Board of Mercy yet to be constituted by Governor Ademola Adeleke in place.

In the meantime, a faith-based nongovernmental organisation, the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR), has asked Governor Adeleke to establish the Board of Mercy to see to the needs of prisoners, especially in relation to granting amnesty to inmates on death row.

CJMR, in a letter signed by its Executive Director, Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, stated that “It has come to our notice that throughout the previous administration in Osun State, there was no Board of Mercy; as a result, the state governor has not been granting amnesty to inmates on death row in Osun State, in contravention of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“We would like to humbly draw your attention to Sections 175 and 212 of the Constitution of the Nigerian Constitution, which empower the state governor to grant amnesty to convicts, both those serving imprisonment and those on death row. It is concerning that this constitutional provision has not been fully implemented in Osun State for nearly six years.

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“Furthermore, we wish to highlight the dire and unbearable conditions of overcrowding in the death row section of the Correctional Centre. Presently, in Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, there are 85 people on death row who are convicts from Osun State.

“We believe that some of these inmates could be transferred to the general convict section, thereby reducing the overcrowding in the death row section. Additionally, we urge that those who meet the criteria for total freedom under the Constitution be considered for release.

“We respectfully request that Your Excellency looks into this appeal and take the appropriate steps to constitute the Board of Mercy in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and take the necessary actions to address the issues raised,” CJMR stated.