Izunaso frees 17 Imo prisoners after his daughter urged him to mark his birthday with acts of kindness, fulfilling a personal vow to help the needy

Izunaso frees 17 Imo prisoners after his daughter’s compassionate appeal inspired him to mark his 59th birthday with acts of kindness and mercy.

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The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Osita Izunaso, said his second daughter, Cassy Izunaso, a legal practitioner, had encouraged him to include prison outreach and charity work as part of his birthday celebration on October 30, 2025.

Speaking in Owerri, Izunaso explained that her request deeply moved him, prompting collaboration with legal experts to secure the release of 17 convicted inmates from the Owerri Correctional Centre.

“It is also part of our continuous commitment to supporting the less privileged and upholding the values of mercy and rehabilitation,” the senator said.

Izunaso, who founded the Kpakpando Foundation over a decade ago, noted that his intervention was not only an act of compassion but also a fulfilment of a personal covenant with God to offer relief to those in distress.

The senator personally paid the fines of the inmates — including two women — whose penalties were below ₦1 million, according to the Controller of the centre, Mr Mike Okorie.

During his visit to the facility, Izunaso urged the freed inmates to embrace discipline and make positive contributions to society, describing their time in custody as a “period of reflection and divine redirection.”

“Sometimes God allows such experiences to help them avoid greater troubles in life,” he added.

The freed prisoners, in turn, promised to live responsibly and not return to crime.

Okorie commended Izunaso’s compassion, describing his gesture as a rare act of humanity that restores hope to the forgotten.

In a post shared later on his Facebook page, Izunaso revealed that he also facilitated medical tests and treatments for over 200 inmates, handing over additional drugs to the correctional centre’s medical department for ongoing care.

“We wish the freed inmates a better life in society,” he wrote.

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The senator’s gesture adds to his longstanding record of humanitarian service through his foundation, which has provided scholarships, vocational training, and welfare support for persons with disabilities across Nigeria.