By Cross Udo
President Bola Tinubu has bowed to intense public and institutional pressure by drastically pruning the controversial 2025 Presidential Prerogative of Mercy list from 175 to 35 beneficiaries, after weeks of nationwide outrage and high-level consultations.
The presidency announced on Wednesday that the President had signed the final instruments of pardon, clemency and commutation, effectively concluding the exercise.
The review followed strong objections from security agencies, civil society groups and prominent Nigerians over the inclusion of individuals convicted of grave crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and corruption in the original list.
The original list, released earlier in October, had provoked outrage across the country.
It featured several high-profile convicts, including those found guilty of drug-related offences, human trafficking, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Among the most controversial cases was that of Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of former PDP National Chairman, Haliru Bello.
Her name’s appearance on the list triggered a firestorm of criticism, with victims’ rights advocates, women’s groups, and religious bodies describing her inclusion as “a slap on the face of justice.”
Following the backlash, the presidency clarified that Sanda was no longer among those granted a full pardon.
Instead, her death sentence was reviewed to a 12-year jail term on “compassionate grounds,” taking into account her good conduct in prison, remorse, and the welfare of her two young children.
Government sources confirmed that several other inmates convicted of violent or morally grave crimes, including drug traffickers, armed robbers, and corrupt former officials, were also struck off the list.
Reacting to the national uproar, Tinubu ordered an immediate review of the entire clemency exercise, directing that only persons who satisfied legal and procedural requirements should benefit.
“The President was firm that the power of mercy must not be abused or seen to reward impunity,” an aide familiar with the process disclosed. He insisted that justice must be balanced with compassion, not compromised by it.”
•Orders relocation of Secretariat to Justice Ministry
Following this directive, a multi-agency panel comprising the Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Security Adviser’s Office, and other stakeholders undertook a fresh vetting of all names submitted by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), later confirmed that the President had signed the revised instruments of clemency.
“During the review, many names previously recommended were found not to have met the required standards and were delisted. Others had their sentences reviewed to reflect fairness, reform, and compassion within the law,” he said.
Fagbemi also announced that the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy had been moved from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice, in line with the President’s directive.
According to him, the relocation will strengthen transparency and ensure future exercises meet public expectations.
He revealed that new guidelines will soon be issued, making it compulsory for future clemency recommendations to be cleared with relevant prosecuting agencies before presidential consideration.
Confirming the development, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu personally reviewed the sensitive cases to ensure that no person convicted of crimes that threaten national security or public morality benefited.
“Persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, trafficking, fraud, corruption, and unlawful possession of firearms were removed from the list,” he stated.
“The President took this action in view of the gravity of these offences, the feelings of victims and their families, and to reinforce the morale of law enforcement officers.”
Onanuga described the review as a deliberate effort to ensure that justice and mercy coexist within the rule of law.
“Justice is a three-way traffic, for the accused, for the victim, and for the state. The President’s decision reflects his commitment to balancing these principles.”
The final list, signed by the President, covers 35 persons, categorised into three instruments: pardon, clemency, and commutation.
Under the Instrument of Pardon, 15 individuals were fully pardoned.
They include former lawmaker Hon. Farouk M. Lawan, former public official Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, legal practitioner Hussaini Alhaji Umar, and posthumous pardons granted to the late Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other members of the Ogoni Nine. Nationalist Herbert Macaulay was also honoured posthumously.
Under the Instrument of Clemency, 15 other convicts, including Oroka Michael Chibueze, Adesanya Olufemi Paul, Hamza Abubakar, and Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa, had their sentences reduced or commuted, based on good conduct and recommendation from the correctional service.
Under the Instrument of Commutation, four inmates on death row- Emmanuel Baba Irene, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar Toulite, and Mohammed Umar- had their sentences converted to life imprisonment.
The final list has been forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for immediate implementation.
Observers have described the public uproar and eventual revision of the clemency list as a watershed in Nigeria’s democratic accountability.
As one senior Justice Ministry official put it, “This is not just a list of mercy — it’s a statement of values.”
