The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to facilitate the rehabilitation and integration of the 53 convicts pardoned on Decembers 26, 2024.

An Executive Director at CDHR, Emmnauel Olowu, gave the advice during an interview on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Commending the Osun State government for the amnesty given to the convicts, Mr Olowu said that their re-entry into society presented an opportunity for restorative justice and reintegration.

” The success of this pivotal phase lies in the effective implementation of rehabilitation programmes that support their mental, emotional, and vocational development. As you strive to uphold the ethos of justice and humanity, these ex-convicts must receive adequate support for successful transition back into their communities,” the director said.

He further said that immediate and concerted action must be taken towards ensuring that robust rehabilitation programmes were established and funded for the pardoned.

Mr Olowu called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure a successful rehabilitation when needed .

The CDHR director quoted the provisions of Parole in Section 468 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2015, stipulating that “a prisoner released under sub- section (1) shall undergo a rehabilitation programme in any appropriate facility to enable him to be properly reintegrated to society.”

Mr Olowu further said that the issue of rehabilitation must be seen as not just a necessity but mandatory as spelt out in the administrative criminal law.

(NAN)