Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the release of 55 prison inmates from different correctional centres in the state.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Mr Pedro said, “Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the release of 55 inmates from various correctional facilities across the state.’’

The commissioner said that the order was for the immediate release of 40 inmates while others were to be released after serving additional terms of between three  and six months.

According to Mr. Pedro, the governor’s directive which is an exercise of his powers under Section 212 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), aligns with his commitment to decongest prisons as part of the Justice Sector Reforms in the state.

He noted that the council before making the recommendations, exercised due diligence in deliberating on “the applications brought before it in line with the applicable guidelines with information provided by the authorities of the correctional facilities, the nature of offence the inmate was convicted for, period of incarceration, age, health condition and the behavioural conduct of the inmate.”

Mr Pedro added that the order was to be complied with after completion of the release administrative process by the correctional facilities.