Sanwo-Olu Orders Release And Sentence Reduction For 91 Inmates To Mark Human Rights Day

Lagos State is turning the page for dozens of inmates as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approves the release and commutation of sentences for 91 prisoners, a gesture woven into the state’s commemoration of the 2025 United Nations Human Rights Day.

Announcing the development, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, said the December 10 observance stands as a yearly reminder of the world’s pledge to dignity, equality, and justice. He described the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a guiding light for all nations determined to uphold human value and the rule of law.

Pedro underscored Lagos State’s long-standing dedication to defending citizens’ rights. Since establishing the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights in 1999, the government has used the institution as a bridge to justice handling roughly 1,950 petitions in the past year, resolving about 1,200 cases through mediation, and managing nearly 50 ongoing fundamental rights cases across Federal and State High Courts. These cases span unlawful arrests, police misconduct, property disputes, and child custody issues.

Providing clarity on the governor’s latest approval, Pedro outlined how the decision will unfold:

• 80 inmates who have already served over 70% of their sentences are to be released immediately.
• 11 more will be freed between January and April 2026.
• Inmates currently on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

Closing his address, the Attorney-General called on Lagos residents to stay law-abiding and to respect one another’s rights, reminding the public that the protection of fundamental freedoms lies at the heart of Lagos State’s human rights philosophy.