President Bola Tinubu has reversed his earlier decision granting presidential pardons to certain individuals following widespread public backlash.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, persons convicted of serious crimes—including kidnapping, drug-related offenses, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms have been removed from the previously announced list of beneficiaries.
In addition, President Tinubu has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The announcement, released on Tuesday by the State House, follows criticism over clemency granted to 175 convicts, including Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The statement explained that the President signed instruments of release to exercise his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy but, after consultations with the Council of State and public opinion, ordered a review of the initial list submitted by the Presidential Advisory Committee, chaired by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).
“Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc., were deleted from the list. Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted,” the statement read.
The Presidency explained that the review was necessary due to the gravity and security implications of some offenses, the need to be sensitive to victims and society, to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies, and to adhere to bilateral obligations. It added that the concept of justice as a “three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the state/society” guided the review process.
To prevent future controversies, the President ordered the Secretariat to be moved to the Ministry of Justice and directed the Attorney-General to issue guidelines for exercising the power of prerogative of mercy. The guidelines will include mandatory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies to ensure that only individuals who fully meet legal and procedural requirements benefit from pardons or sentence commutations.
President Tinubu thanked Nigerians for their constructive feedback and engagement and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice.
The original pardon list, which included Sanda, had sparked public outrage, with many questioning the rationale for granting clemency to individuals convicted of heinous crimes. Sanda, who spent nearly seven years at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, was sentenced to death by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2017, a verdict upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2020. Her family had petitioned for her release, citing her good conduct in prison, remorse, and personal reform.
The new full list of those granted clemency by President Tinubu:
Pardons:
1. Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia
2. Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar
3. Ayinla Saadu Alanamu
4. Hon. Farouk M. Lawan
5. Herbert Macaulay
6. Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa
7. Ken Saro Wiwa
8. Saturday Dobee
9. Nordu Eawo
10. Daniel Gbooko
11. Paul Levera
12. Felix Nuale
13. Baribor Bera
14. Barinem Kiobel
15. John Kpuine
List of individuals whose death sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment:
1. Emmanuel Baba
2. Abubakar Usman
3. Khalifa Umar
4. Mohammed Umar
The list of those granted clemency:
1. Oroka Michael Chibueze
2. Adesanya Olufemi Paul
3. Daniel Bodunwa
4. Hamza Abubakar
5. Buhari Sani
6. Mohammed Musa
7. Muharazu Abubakar
8. Ibrahim Yusuf
9. Saad Ahmed Madaki
10. Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa
11. Richard Ayuba
12. Adam Abubakar
13. Emmanuel Yusuf
14. Chinedu Stanley
15. Johnny Ntheru Udor
