Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa marked his 61st birthday by granting amnesty to seven inmates serving various sentences in correctional centres across the state. The pardons were issued under his constitutional prerogative of mercy, with beneficiaries selected for their genuine remorse, good behaviour and rehabilitation efforts — reflecting the governor’s commitment to restorative justice and societal reintegration. This gesture builds on a broader clemency drive earlier in the year, when he granted pardons to 77 convicts during the New Year celebrations. 

The state’s Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney General, played a key role in vetting candidates for release, underscoring the administration’s effort to balance accountability with compassion and to reduce prison congestion. Supporters of the governor have praised the decision as a humane approach to justice that offers renewed opportunities for reformed individuals to contribute positively to their communities.