NGO urges Gov Adeleke to establish mercy board for parole, amnesty in Osun

A faith-based nongovernmental organisation, the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR), has asked the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to establish a Board of Mercy in Osun State to see to the need for parole of prisoners, especially in relation to granting amnesty to inmates on death row.

CJMR, in a letter signed by its Executive Director, Pastor Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi, stated that as a body committed to investigating potential wrongful convictions and advocating for justice for those who have been wrongly sentenced to death or detained, it wishes to call the attention of the state governor to the need for such a board in the state.

It added 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

“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.

With a proven track record of remarkable achievements, CIMR collaborates with legal experts and other professionals to meticulously assess evidence and pursue avenues for appeal or exoneration by shedding light on cases where individuals claim innocence and advocating for a thorough review of evidence and legal proceedings.

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