Osun govt debunks claim Adeleke pardoned murderer, labels report malicious fabrication
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The Osun State Government has dismissed as fake news a report claiming that Governor Ademola Adeleke granted clemency to a convicted murderer.
The Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement on Saturday, described the story published by an online platform, Insight Links, as a deliberate act of mischief aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor and his administration.
He clarified that the convict in question, Kehinde Ganiyu, was jailed for stealing, not murder, as wrongly reported by the platform.
According to Alimi, the list of convicted inmates recommended for clemency — signed by Mr. Inyang C. N., an Assistant Superintendent of Corrections, on behalf of the Controller of Corrections, Osun State Command — did not, in any way, indicate that any of the 36 convicts granted amnesty, including Ganiyu, was facing a murder charge.
“The number eight and number thirteen on the list, Tajudeen Ridwan and AbdulGafar Quadri, including Kehinde Ganiyu, were convicted for stealing and not murder as reported,” Alimi stated.
He described the online report, titled “Osun: Adeleke Pardons Suspected Murderer Who Confessed to Slitting Friend’s Throat for Money Ritual,” as journalistically reckless, misleading, and capable of deceiving the unsuspecting public.
“How on earth could a governor like Ademola Adeleke, who is in tune with the yearnings and good expectations of the people, have gone the whole hog to grant a pardon to a condemned criminal like Kehinde Ganiyu if it had been clearly stated in the said document that he was convicted for murder?” Alimi queried.
He further noted that Governor Adeleke acted in good faith and in line with the spirit of clemency expected of his office, particularly during the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
Alimi urged the public to disregard the false report and advised Insight Links, the purveyor of the misleading story, to verify information thoroughly before publication to avoid misrepresentation of facts that could lead to serious legal consequences.
