Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to revise the presidential pardon list, calling it a sign of strength and accountability.
Earlier in October, Tinubu approved clemency for 175 people after the Council of State’s recommendation. Among them was Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death for killing her husband. Following public outrage, the president revoked Sanda’s pardon and reduced her sentence to 12 years in prison.
Onanuga, speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time, said Tinubu’s action showed he was responsive to public opinion. “The president is human and can make mistakes, but he’s also willing to correct them,” he said. “It takes strength to reassess decisions and make adjustments.”
He explained that most criticism focused on Sanda’s case and noted that the revised list excluded offenders convicted of crimes such as kidnapping, trafficking, and fraud. However, Onanuga acknowledged that a few drug-related convicts remained on the list after careful review.
