Tinubu Shocks Nigerians, Revises Presidential Pardon List After Public Outcry

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that following intense public criticism, President Bola Tinubu has reviewed and reduced the list of convicted persons earlier approved for presidential pardon under his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy.

OTN News further reports that the decision, announced earlier this week by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), saw the removal of several controversial names from the original list of beneficiaries. 

The federal government, according to Fagbemi, had concluded a meticulous review of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, ensuring that the final list aligns with legal standards, justice, and public expectations.

OTN News observes that the Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the revised list excluded individuals convicted of serious crimes, including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms. 

He added that some names were retained but had their sentences commuted or reduced to reflect fairness and justice.

Onanuga noted that the review was necessary to protect national security, uphold the morale of law enforcement agencies, and respect the feelings of crime victims and the wider society. 

“The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the state guided the review,” he said, adding that the approved list has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.

OTN News had earlier reported that President Tinubu had earlier approved pardon for 175 inmates following a Council of State meeting, but the gesture drew sharp public backlash, especially over the inclusion of certain high-profile convicts such as Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband.

In response to widespread outrage, the presidency clarified that no inmate had yet been released, as the process was still undergoing administrative review.

After the final assessment, the list was cut from 175 to 120 names. Out of these, 15 inmates received full pardon, 15 others were granted clemency, four death-row inmates had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, and 86 convicts, including Sanda, had their sentences reduced.

According to the revised Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy dated October 21 and signed by Tinubu, Sanda’s death sentence was commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment on “compassionate grounds” in consideration of her children and her good conduct while in custody.

Names such as Farouk Lawan, Ken Saro Wiwa, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and Barinem Kiobel were among those granted presidential pardon. However, individuals convicted of drug-related offences, including Alaugwu Lawrence, Ben Friday, and Kelvin Christopher Smith, were among the 55 names removed.

Fagbemi stated that the review underscores the president’s resolve to balance justice with compassion, reform Nigeria’s correctional system, and adhere to international standards of humane penal practice.

To prevent future controversies, Tinubu has ordered the relocation of the secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Ministry of Justice. 

He also directed the AGF to issue new guidelines mandating consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies before granting clemency.

“The president appreciates the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and reaffirms his commitment to justice reform and the protection of human dignity,” the AGF stated.

Meanwhile, the decision has drawn mixed reactions. Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticized the president’s reversal, describing it as “an act of shame, not wisdom.”

Shaibu accused the administration of reacting only after public backlash, saying, “This U-turn is not an act of wisdom; it’s an act of shame. If Nigerians had kept quiet, would drug traffickers and kidnappers be walking free today?”

He questioned the criteria used to select beneficiaries and faulted the government’s handling of the process, alleging that the administration “governs through trial and error.”

Despite the criticism, government officials maintain that the review reflects a sincere effort to uphold justice, ensure transparency, and restore public confidence in the exercise of presidential mercy.