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By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has granted pardons and other forms of executive clemency to 101 convicts and convicts as part of activities marking the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
Governor Ododo announced the decision in his Independence Day address to the people of Kogi State on Thursday, October 1, 2026, saying the exercise is anchored on the constitutional prerogative of mercy and guided by considerations of rehabilitation, remorse, humanitarian circumstances, public interest and justice.
The Governor said the decision is particularly significant because the anniversary of the country’s Independence represents freedom, responsibility and the enduring hope that future generations can build a better society.
According to him, justice must be balanced with compassion, adding that a society committed to justice must also recognize rehabilitation and the possibility of redemption for those who demonstrate genuine remorse and are ready to return to a responsible life.
Governor Ododo disclosed that he inaugurated the Kogi State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy on September 2, 2026, in accordance with the constitutional framework governing the exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy. The Council was chaired by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Muizudeen Yunus Abdullahi, SAN. The inauguration of the seven-member Council was earlier announced by the Kogi State Government.
He said the Council reviewed relevant documents of cases before it, considered representations submitted on behalf of prisoners and convicts, examined correctional reports and visited correctional centers across the State, including Koton Karfe, Kabba, Dekina, Ankpa, Idah and Okene.
The Governor said the Council considered factors such as age, health, nature and circumstances of the offences, time already served, conduct in custody, remorse, rehabilitation, acquired professional skills, family and community support, victims’ interests, public safety and the wider interests of justice.
Governor Ododo explained that 94 beneficiaries were granted pardons on grounds including old age, medical conditions, good conduct, rehabilitation, remorse and compassionate considerations, while seven others received remissions of sentences.
Those granted mercy on grounds of old age and health include Lamidi Mohammed Garuba, 91; Ajagbonna Olufemi David, 72; Yakubu Atabo; Chief Umane Okeme; Saidu Atuluku Yunusa; Hilary Chike Nwaeze; Ebenezer Mopah; Abdullahi Jibril; and Usman Ismaila.
The seven beneficiaries whose sentences were remitted are Tunde Adura, Olusaye Moses Abayomi, Abu Mowde, Zakariyau Baba, Michael Ojonugwa, Rami Sadiq and Salawudeen Sanusi.
Governor Ododo stressed that the exercise did not lessen the severity of the offenses for which the beneficiaries were convicted, describing it as an exercise in constitutional compassion in meritorious circumstances.
He charged the beneficiaries to view this opportunity as a new responsibility and urged them to return to their families and communities as responsible citizens.
“You have been given another opportunity, and with every second opportunity comes a greater responsibility,” the Governor said, urging recipients not to return to crime and to put the skills, education and lessons learned during their incarceration to good use.
He also called on the people of Kogi State, especially the youths, to reject kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud, theft, cultism, drug-related crimes and other forms of criminality.
Governor Ododo said poverty, peer pressure and the desire for quick riches must never become excuses for criminal conduct, stressing that hard work, education, resourcefulness, integrity and perseverance remain the legitimate paths to a meaningful life.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to support security agencies and strengthen the administration of justice, while protecting the rights of citizens and maintaining firm action against criminal activities.
He also called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth organizations and other stakeholders to join the government in the fight against crime.
“The battle against crime is not a battle that government can win alone. It is a collective fight for the soul and future of our communities,” he said.
The Governor also used his Independence Day speech to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the courage and vision with which his administration is pursuing national renewal.
He said the federal government’s focus on economic reforms, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and social investment aims to address both immediate difficulties and long-standing structural challenges.
Governor Ododo particularly highlighted the federal government’s recently approved offshore investment framework, which the Presidency said is designed to unlock up to $50 billion in new investments and revive major offshore developments.
He also cited interventions in education, agriculture, housing, compressed natural gas, domestic refining and other sectors as part of the federal government’s broader development direction.
The Governor said Kogi State remains aligned with the national aspiration for a stronger, more prosperous and secure Nigeria.
Governor Ododo said Kogi’s strategic location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, coupled with its agricultural, mining and tourism resources, gives the state enormous development potential.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, security, human capital development, rural electrification, mining, tourism and enterprise.
According to him, the goal is to build a Kogi State where opportunities are accessible to citizens of all communities and where government provides the necessary environment, infrastructure and policies for citizens to create wealth.
The Governor also called for unity among the Kogi people, regardless of political, religious, ethnic or social differences.
“Politics will come and go. Administrations will come and go. But Kogi State will remain our common home,” he said.
He urged citizens to protect the state, invest in its future and give younger generations reasons to remain proud of their heritage.
As Nigeria celebrated 66 years of independence, Governor Ododo called on Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and continue working towards a stronger, more productive and prosperous nation.
He congratulated President Tinubu and Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on the anniversary and paid tribute to the country’s founding fathers, soldiers and security personnel who serve to protect the nation.
He concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to good governance, security, infrastructure development, human capital development, economic empowerment and creation of opportunities for the people of Kogi State.
“The Nigeria we desire is possible. The Kogi State we desire is possible. But possibility only becomes reality when hope is paired with action,” Governor Ododo said.
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