News Update
Media reports that the Osun State government granted amnesty to 36 inmates to mark the Nigeria’s independence day 2025.
Over the weekend, our correspondent gathered that a press statement credited to an Osun based media platform, Insight Links Media, expressed concerns over the Osun State Government handling of the case, alleging that one of the pardoned inmates named Ganiyu Kehinde had earlier confessed to murder.
It questioned why Kehinde was pardoned despite the severity of his alleged crime, asking the government to provide clear justification for the pardon or details about the inmates released.
Residents are worried that releasing convicted felons, especially those accused of serious crimes like murder, could pose a risk to public safety.
However, the State Government has pushed back against Insight Links’ claims, accusing the news platform of launching an attack rather than engaging with the issue.
In response, Insight Links posted that the government hasn’t provided concrete evidence to refute the allegations or clarify the criteria used for selecting inmates for pardon.
To alleviate public concerns, Insight Media asked the government to release details, including photographs and offenses of the pardoned inmates, noting that establishing a committee to review the pardon process might help address concerns about transparency and fairness. A thorough investigation into the pardon process could help clarify whether due process was followed.
The statement reads in part,
“Having perused the statement, we found out that the government was more interested in launching an attack on Insight Links than engaging the public. The government demanded a retraction but did not advance any justification for it.
In paragraph three of the said statement, the Osun Government looked for a convenient way of absconding from responsibility and deflected the matter to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The government claimed the list was recommended, but at no point in the said statement did the Osun government reveal any investigation conducted by it on the said list before it was approved.
We affirm that a certain Ganiyu Kehinde confessed that he killed a Ghanaian friend and cut his throat for a money ritual. It is public knowledge that murder is a crime against the state, and it is the duty of any responsible government to prosecute it.
We express worry that the state government is more interested in attacking the story than addressing the details of the story. We read the said statement, and it is concerning that the government did not provide updates on the prosecution of Kehinde Ganiyu, the confessed murderer – crux of the matter.
Was Kehinde Ganiyu charged for stealing instead of murder? Is he still in custody? Has he been convicted? When was the last trial, if he has not been convicted?
Since the government is aware that a certain Kehinde Ganiyu confessed to murder and it announced a pardon for someone with the same name, we expect the government to have released his photograph for the public to be at rest that the released Kehinde Ganiyu is not the confessed murderer.
Apart from Kehinde Ganiyu, insinuations are rife in the public that some of the pardoned inmates are political touts and they were released purposely for the upcoming elections. To ease the tension, the government should release the photographs and offenses of the released inmates to the public. Had the Osun Government set up a committee that has reputable religious leaders, CSOs, senior lawyers, etc., to review the list before it was made public, maybe we would not be where we are now.
Indeed, the government missed the opportunity to address pertinent issues, and we are re-presenting it to them.
At Insight Links, we stand by our story.
However, we are ready to acknowledge new and credible development that may be connected to this story. We are also ready to collaborate and work assiduously with the state government to enlighten the public and de-escalate tension when photograph(s) and detail(s) of Kehinde Ganiyu and the other 35 pardoned inmates are made public.
For us, impacting and enlightening the people with accurate information is more important.“
It will be recalled that the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke granted amnesty to 36 Convicts to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day on October 1, 2025.
In a Press Release signed by the Spokesperson to the Governor Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor said the gestures was in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.WhatsApp marketing tools
The 36 convicts are those currently serving sentences at the Nigerian Correctional Service facilities in Ilesa and Ile-Ife.
The statement reads,
“The beneficiaries of this Independence Day amnesty include men and women convicted mostly of minor offences such as stealing and conspiracy, many of whom had served substantial portions of their sentences.
List of convicts granted Independence Day Amnesty
From Ilesa Correctional Centre:
1. Kehinde Ganiyu
2. Isiaka Mohammed
3. Oluwatosin Femi
4. Adebisi Adeniyi
5. Rotimi Paul
6. Oyewole Sunday
7. Ojo Adewale
8. Tajudeen Ridwan
9. Jokotola Quadri
10. Akinola Taofeek
11. Onibukun Adebisi
12. Azeez Afeez
13. Abdulgafar Quadri
14. Udoh Monday O.
15. Babawale Saheed
16. Olasunkanmi Wasiu
17. Adetoro Toheeb
18. Mudashiru Lawal
19. Ismaila Wahab
20. Yinka Oyeniyi
21. Olaniyan Taofeek
22. Sheu Mumini
23. Ololade Bashit
24. Musibau Abdulkareem
25. Jamiu Sulaeeb
26. Jeremiah Ayuba
27. Abimbola Samad
28. Oladeji Tosin
29. Mathew Samuel
From Ile-Ife Correctional Centre:
30. Yusuf Ola
31. Oyedeji Sunday
32. Ojo Olaoluwa
33. Ogunola Rafiu
34. Ayomide Amos
35. Usman Adefisan
36. Adedigba Abiodun
Speaking on the development, Governor Adeleke emphasized that the decision reflects the spirit of compassion, justice, and renewal which Nigeria’s Independence Day represents:
“As a government of the people, we remain committed to upholding justice while extending mercy to deserving citizens. This amnesty is not only a gesture of freedom but also a call for true rehabilitation, reintegration, and a fresh start for these individuals,” the Governor said.