President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withdrawn the presidential pardon earlier granted to 175 convicts — including Maryam Sanda and several others convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, and fraud — following widespread criticism from the public and legal circles.
A statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the decision came after consultations with the National Council of State and a review of the October 9 clemency list. The Presidency said the move was guided by constitutional powers under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution and aimed at addressing concerns about national security and justice.
According to the revised gazette released by Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the number of beneficiaries has been reduced from 175 to 120. High-profile names such as Maryam Sanda were removed entirely or had their sentences revised. Sanda, convicted in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, will now serve a reduced 12-year prison term instead of receiving a full pardon.
The Presidency said the review was influenced by “the seriousness of certain offences and the need to be sensitive to victims, the morale of security agencies, and the rule of law.” It added that future pardon exercises will require input from prosecuting agencies to ensure compliance with legal standards.
The new clemency list retains 15 full pardons, mainly for non-violent or symbolic cases such as late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine activists executed in 1995. Four inmates previously on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while 15 others were granted reduced sentences or early release for good conduct and rehabilitation.
However, the decision has sparked political reactions. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused Tinubu of inconsistency and “promoting impunity,” describing the U-turn as evidence of disorder in his administration. PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor said the reversal “reflects confusion and poor governance,” urging the President to resign if he cannot manage state affairs effectively.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the presidency, calling the sequence of pardon and revocation “an act of shame” and proof of a government that “thinks after it acts.”
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) dismissed the retention of the Ogoni Nine’s posthumous pardons as a political gesture. The group said it would not celebrate the move, alleging it was part of a plan to resume oil operations in Ogoniland without resolving long-standing issues of environmental justice.
The Presidency maintained that the review underscores Tinubu’s commitment to judicial reform and fairness, adding that only deserving individuals who meet the strict legal criteria will benefit from future clemency decisions.
