In commemoration of the 2025 United Nations International Human Rights Day, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the release of 91 inmates from various correctional centres across the state and the commutation of all death sentences among them to life imprisonment.
The gesture, announced on Tuesday, underscores the administration’s continued dedication to restorative justice, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, said the annual December 10 observance serves as a reminder of the global commitment to equality, dignity, and justice enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which he described as “the moral and legal compass for nations committed to justice and human dignity.”
Mr. Pedro highlighted Lagos State’s pioneering efforts in human rights protection, noting that the state established the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights as far back as 1999, one of the first sub-national interventions of its kind in Nigeria.
The Directorate continues to provide free legal services, mediate disputes, and defend fundamental rights.Key achievements in the past year include:
Receiving and treating approximately 1,950 citizens’ petitions
Successfully resolving 1,200 cases through mediation
Handling nearly 50 ongoing fundamental rights enforcement cases in the Federal and State High Courts, ranging from unlawful detention and police brutality to property and child custody disputes
Breakdown of the Governor’s approval:
Immediate release of 80 inmates who have served more than 70% of their sentences
Phased release of the remaining 11 inmates between January and April 2026
Commutation of death sentences to life imprisonment for all inmates on death row among the beneficiaries
Concluding the briefing, the Attorney-General called on residents to remain law-abiding and respect the rights of others, stressing that the protection of fundamental freedoms remains a cornerstone of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s governance philosophy.
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