The latest intervention brings to more than 500 the number of inmates who have benefited from pardon initiatives under the Sani administration since it assumed office in May 2023.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kaduna. He said the exercise involved the release of eligible inmates, as well as the payment of fines and compensation in other cases.
According to Maiyaki, the intervention is part of the state government’s restorative justice programme, which seeks to support rehabilitation and reintegration while addressing the circumstances that may prolong incarceration.
He said the administration had spent more than N300 million on fines and compensation for victims since May 2023.
Maiyaki said the initiative was intended to restore hope among beneficiaries and enable them to reunite with their families and communities.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir James A. Kanyip, said the latest clemency exercise was in line with the governor’s practice of granting pardons during major national occasions, including New Year, Democracy Day and Independence Day.
Kanyip said the prerogative of mercy was exercised through established procedures, taking into account considerations of accountability, rehabilitation and the responsibilities attached to freedom.
He added that the payment of fines and compensation could help remove financial obstacles that kept eligible inmates in custody, while also recognising the interests of victims.
According to the commissioner, the continued use of clemency forms part of the administration’s broader approach to justice and the social reintegration of former inmates.
Kanyip urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity responsibly by returning to their families and communities and contributing positively to society.
