President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has formally exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy, granting pardon and clemency to selected individuals previously convicted of various offences, while revising the list to exclude certain serious offenders.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via X.
“After extensive consultations with the Council of State and careful consideration of public opinion, the President directed a comprehensive review of the originally approved list,” Onanuga said. “This ensures that the exercise aligns with the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
According to Onanuga, individuals convicted of grave crimes, including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms, were removed from the list. Others who had previously received pardons had their sentences commuted rather than fully absolved.
“The review was guided by the seriousness of the offences, the security implications, and sensitivity to victims and society,” Onanuga added. “It also aims to uphold the morale of our law enforcement agencies and reinforce the principle that justice involves the Accused, the Victim, and the State.”
The final list of eligible beneficiaries has been forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the instruments of release signed by the President.
In a bid to improve future exercises, President Tinubu has ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Furthermore, the Attorney-General of the Federation has been instructed to issue guidelines to ensure that future pardons strictly comply with legal and procedural requirements.
“This will guarantee that only those fully meeting the stipulated criteria will benefit from presidential clemency,” Onanuga explained.
The President expressed gratitude to stakeholders and the general public for their input, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to judicial reforms and the overall improvement of Nigeria’s justice system.
