Adeleke did not pardon a murderer - Osun Gov't clarifies

The Osun State Government has clarified that Governor Ademola Adeleke did not grant a pardon to a confessed murderer, describing a recent online report on the matter as misleading mischief.

The clarification follows Governor Adeleke's action of granting amnesty to 36 convicts serving various jail terms in Ilesha and Ife Correctional facilities as part of activities to mark Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary.

Reacting to the online report, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, issued a statement over the weekend to counter the claim that the Governor pardoned a suspected murderer who confessed to slitting a friend's throat for a money ritual.

Alimi explained that the Governor’s action, taken in his official capacity as the Chief Security Officer, was based on a recommended list of convicted inmates submitted by the Osun State Command of the Correctional Service.

The statement noted that the list, referenced OSCHQ.1C/,VOL.XIV/393 and dated September 25, 2025, which was addressed to the Attorney General of Osun State, "did not, in any way or manner, state that, of the 36 convicts granted amnesty, one of them, a herbalist, Kehinde Ganiyu was facing a murder charge."

According to the state government, Kehinde Ganiyu, who was among those granted pardon, was actually convicted of stealing and not murder, as was contained in the list compiled by the correctional centres.

Alimi stressed that Governor Adeleke, "with all sense of responsibility," acted in good faith and in line with the occasional show of clemency expected of his office, especially during a national celebration like the Independence Anniversary.

The Commissioner appealed to the public to dismiss the online report, which he described as a hatchet job calculated at painting the person and office of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke in bad light.

He further implored the media outlet that published the misleading report to verify the authenticity of stories to avoid misrepresenting facts, and advised anyone still unconvinced about the Governor’s action to verify the list directly from the Ilesha and Ile Ife Correctional Centres.