President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the presidential pardon earlier granted to at least 175 inmates during the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, after public criticism over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, “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.”
Onanuga added, “Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.”
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The Presidency explained that the decision followed consultations with the Council of State and responses from the public, in line with the President’s powers under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The statement further read, “This action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law-enforcement agencies, and adherence to bilateral obligations.”
It added that “the concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.”
Tinubu’s directive comes three weeks after intense public outrage followed the inclusion of Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of a former PDP national chairman, on the pardon list.
Her clemency drew condemnation from rights activists, victims’ families, and legal associations, who described it as “an affront to justice” and “a mockery of the fight against gender-based violence.”
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law also called on the President to reverse what it described as “a grave error of judgment,” insisting that “granting mercy to a convicted murderer sends the wrong signal about accountability and deterrence.”
In a separate directive, Tinubu ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
He further instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop new guidelines for the exercise of presidential mercy, requiring “compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies” before any future approvals.
Onanuga noted that “this will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.”
He confirmed that the final list of approved beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.
Tinubu, while acknowledging the constructive feedback from citizens and stakeholders, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial reforms and to strengthening the justice system in Nigeria.
