Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has extended his administration’s clemency programme to another 27 inmates, bringing the total number of people reached by the initiative since he assumed office to more than 500.
The latest beneficiaries were released as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the intervention covering correctional facilities across Kaduna State.
Beyond outright releases, the programme also involves the payment of fines and compensation on behalf of eligible inmates. The state government said the approach is intended to address financial obstacles that can prolong the detention of people who qualify for release.
Kaduna Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the government had spent more than ₦300 million on fines and compensation for victims since Sani became governor in May 2023.
According to Maiyaki, the clemency programme has been implemented on several significant occasions, including New Year celebrations, Democracy Day and Independence Day.
He said the initiative was designed to combine public safety and accountability with rehabilitation and opportunities for deserving inmates to rebuild their lives after leaving custody.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir James A. Kanyip, said the latest exercise followed established procedures for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
Kanyip noted that the intervention was not limited to freeing inmates, stressing that the payment of fines and compensation also gives the programme a restorative justice component by addressing the interests of victims while helping qualified inmates overcome financial barriers to release.
He described the repeated interventions over the past three years as evidence of a broader policy of rehabilitation and reintegration rather than an isolated Independence Day gesture.
The state government said the beneficiaries are expected to return to their families and communities and take steps towards responsible and productive lives, while maintaining that the interests of victims and wider public safety remain central to the process.
