After Backlash, Tinubu Cuts Presidential Pardon List From 175 to 34
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reduced the number of beneficiaries on the presidential pardon list from 175 to 34 following widespread public outrage over the initial inclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and kidnapping.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Tinubu, exercising his constitutional powers under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, signed the revised instruments of clemency after consultations with the Council of State and a comprehensive review by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
According to the Presidency, the review was influenced by concerns about national security, public sentiment, and the need to uphold justice for victims. Convicts involved in violent or drug-related offences were removed from the list, while a few sentences were commuted based on age, health, or demonstrated reform.
Among those who received posthumous pardons are nationalist Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Ken Saro-Wiwa, along with other members of the Ogoni Nine. Former lawmaker Farouk Lawan and several reformed inmates were also granted clemency.
The Federal Government clarified that no inmate has yet been released pending final legal verification. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), explained that the process remains in its administrative phase to ensure full compliance with legal procedures.
In response to the controversy surrounding the exercise, President Tinubu ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to the Ministry of Justice and directed the Attorney-General to issue new guidelines for future clemency reviews.
The updated list, now forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation, reflects Tinubu’s effort to balance compassion with accountability while reinforcing public trust in Nigeria’s justice system.
