Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has pardoned 27 prison inmates to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, announced the release on Friday stating that the government has spent more than N300 million since 2023 to pay off fines and compensation to help eligible inmates regain their freedom.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip, said releasing inmates during holidays like Independence Day, Democracy Day, and the New Year has become a tradition for the governor.
Kanyip stated that the process is carefully done through legal channels, focusing on accountability and the readiness of the inmates to return to society.
“The beneficiaries are expected to return to society with a renewed sense of responsibility and appreciation of their obligations to others,” Kanyip said.
He added that paying fines for the inmates is a way to make peace with the victims while giving the prisoners a fresh start. He stressed that justice should include rehabilitation and redemption, not just punishment.
In a related Independence Day message, the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, urged Nigerians to work together to build a better country.
Speaking in Kaduna, Omo-Aje praised the efforts of Nigeria’s founding fathers, including Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for putting the nation first. He said the best way to honor their sacrifices is to create a peaceful and fair society.
Omo-Aje also congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the anniversary, expressing support for the administration’s economic plans. While he acknowledged that current economic reforms are difficult for many, he believes they are necessary for long-term stability.
However, he urged the government to use the occasion to address major challenges like poverty, high prices, and insecurity.
“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,” Omo-Aje stated.
He called on the Federal Government to improve security so that farmers, traders, and students can go about their daily lives safely.
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