LAGOS — As part of the global commemoration of United Nations Human Rights Day, the Lagos State Government has approved the release and commutation of sentences for 91 inmates, renewing its public commitment to justice reform, human dignity and the rule of law.
At a press briefing in Lagos, the State’s Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, explained that the decision was guided by the spirit of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights described by Pedro as “the moral and legal compass for nations committed to justice and human dignity.
Pedro recalled that Lagos after years of military rule established the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights in 1999, a move designed to empower citizens, ensure access to justice, and guard against past abuses of power. He noted that in the past year, the Directorate handled some 1,950 petitions, resolving approximately 1,200 cases through mediation; the remainder remain under investigation or are pending before courts.
Under the new release plan: 80 of the inmates will be freed immediately; six more are scheduled for release by January 31, 2026; three by February 28, 2026; one by March 31, 2026; and the remaining inmates by April 30, 2026 — bringing the full total to 91. Death‑row convicts among them, according to the announcement, will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
The State says this commutation and release exercise reflect more than a symbolic gesture: it is part of a broader shift toward restorative justice, justice sector reform, and decongestion of correctional facilities, advancing the cause of human rights and dignity for inmates who have served substantial portions of their sentences.
Critics and human‑rights watchers will be watching closely: as the releases begin, questions remain about the mechanisms for reintegration of freed prisoners into society, measures to prevent recidivism, and whether this humanitarian step will be matched with broader reforms addressing systemic injustices such as unlawful detentions, police misconduct, and delays in trial.
For now, the December 10 clemency stands as a noteworthy, state‑level gesture of solidarity with global human‑rights norms and a test of whether the promise of justice can be translated into meaningful, lasting reform.