ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the official instrument of clemency and pardon, formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant release and sentence commutation to selected individuals previously convicted for various offences.
The move, however, comes with a major revision the removal of convicts found guilty of serious crimes, including kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal arms possession, from the final pardon list.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the President directed a review of the initial list earlier approved after consultations with the Council of State and extensive public feedback, in line with his discretionary powers under Section 175 (1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Following the review, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms, and arms dealing were deleted from the list, the statement read.
It added that the decision was taken due to the security implications of releasing persons convicted for such offences and the need to respect victims’ rights, boost law enforcement morale, and adhere to Nigeria’s international obligations.
Onanuga noted that some individuals earlier granted clemency in the previous list had their sentences commuted instead of being outrightly pardoned.
He explained that the President’s decision was guided by the three-way concept of justice balancing fairness between the accused, the victim, and the state.
The revised list of approved beneficiaries has since been forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation, in line with the duly signed instruments of release.
In a related directive, President Tinubu also ordered the relocation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice, a move aimed at ensuring that future exercises meet public expectations and global best practices.
President Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue new guidelines for exercising the prerogative of mercy, including mandatory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies, Onanuga stated.
The Presidency acknowledged and appreciated the constructive feedback from Nigerians regarding the pardon process, assuring that future reviews will uphold transparency, fairness, and public confidence.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial reform and the improvement of Nigeria’s justice system, emphasizing that mercy must not compromise justice or national security.
