Lagos State Governor pardons Funke Akindele, husband

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has granted state pardon to Nollywood actress, Funke  Akindele-Bello  and her husband, Abdulrasheed, who  were both non-custodial convicts for offences related to the disobedience of the coronavirus lockdown regulations.

Penpushing reports that relief came the way of the couple on Friday in a statement signed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), which also disclosed approval for release of 56 inmates from various correctional centres in the state.

The statement explained that the Governor acted based on the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, under the powers conferred on him by Section 212 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Penpushing further reports that, the 56 released inmates were also recommended by the Advisory Council for pardon after due examination of their case files and consideration of the length of time served, the gravity of offence, old age and ill-health among other parameters.

The letter of approval also enjoined the beneficiaries of the prerogative of mercy to be good citizens and stay away from crime, and it recalled that the  eight-member Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, headed by a medical doctor, Dr Abayomi Finnih, was inaugurated by the Governor  on December 16, 2019.