Insight Links has questioned the Osun State Government over its decision to grant amnesty to 36 inmates, including a certain Ganiyu Kehinde who allegedly confessed to murder, saying the government’s response to its initial report failed to address the main issues raised.
In a statement signed by its management on Sunday, the media organization said it was disturbed that the government’s rebuttal focused more on attacking Insight Links than clarifying the facts surrounding the release of the inmates.
“Having perused the statement, we found that the government was more interested in launching an attack on Insight Links than engaging the public,” the statement read. “The government demanded a retraction but did not advance any justification for it.”
Insight Links maintained that Ganiyu Kehinde had confessed to killing a Ghanaian friend for ritual purposes, stressing that such a crime is against the state and should be prosecuted, not pardoned. It also queried whether the government verified the list before approving the amnesty reportedly recommended by the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The platform further demanded that the state government clarify whether Kehinde Ganiyu was charged for murder or another offense before his name appeared on the pardon list.
“Was Kehinde Ganiyu charged for stealing instead of murder? Is he still in custody? Has he been convicted? When was the last trial if he has not been convicted?” the statement asked.
Beyond Kehinde’s case, Insight Links noted public insinuations that some of those granted amnesty were political thugs allegedly freed ahead of next year’s elections. It urged the government to release the names, photographs, and offenses of all 36 pardoned inmates to ease public tension.
The statement faulted the government for not setting up a committee comprising religious leaders, civil society representatives, and legal experts to review the list before the amnesty was announced.
According to Insight Links, the government “missed the opportunity to address pertinent issues,” but it expressed readiness to collaborate with the authorities to provide accurate information once verifiable details are released.
“At Insight Links, we stand by our story,” the statement concluded. “However, we are ready to acknowledge any new and credible development that may be connected to this story. For us, enlightening the people with accurate information is more important.”
