A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Mr. Olufemi Ajadi, has extended a helping hand to four persons incarcerated at Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.
Ajadi’s act of compassion, according to a statement yesterday, resulted in the release of four convicts, who were eligible for fine, namely Damilola Opebi, Oyebolu Shina, Dare Lawal and Oluwasegun Ayobami.
Ajadi, the governorship candidate of the NNPP in Ogun State in the 2023 general election, during his birthday celebration on July 20, visited Ibara Correctional Centre and gave food items to the 1,500 inmates, promising to pay the fines of some of them.
Ajadi’s unexpected gesture has, however, attracted appreciation and controversy within the community and in the political landscape.
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It marks a unique instance where a political figure, particularly a governorship candidate, has intervened in the lives of individuals entangled in the criminal justice system.
The freed persons have been serving sentences at the correctional centre, awaiting legal processes that can potentially grant them their freedom.
Responding to the controversy, Ajadi’s legal team led by Mr. Isaac Izunya, in a statement yesterday stressed their client’s commitment to criminal justice reform and a fairer legal system.
He said the gesture was a proof of Ajadi’s vision for a just and compassionate society, irrespective of political considerations.