ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has revised the list of convicted persons granted presidential pardon, removing several controversial beneficiaries following widespread public criticism.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, confirmed that the federal government concluded a review of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise, which was approved after a recent Council of State meeting.
The review resulted in the removal of 55 names from the original 175-person list and reductions in the sentences of certain convicts instead of freeing them outright.
Among those affected is Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of murdering her husband in 2020.
Her death sentence was commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment “based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct”.
Fagbemi said, “Few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.”
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that individuals convicted of serious offences — including kidnapping, drug-related crimes, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal arms possession — were removed from the list.
He said the move sought to “boost the morale of law enforcement agencies” and protect victims and society.
Onanuga noted, “The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the state/society also guided the review.”
The final list includes 15 convicts granted full pardon and 15 granted clemency. Four death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, while the majority — 86 convicts — received sentence reductions.
The presidency also directed that future pardon exercises undergo stricter scrutiny. Fagbemi said Tinubu ordered the issuance of new guidelines requiring “compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies”.
The government’s reversal followed intense public criticism, particularly over the inclusion of high-profile offenders such as Sanda and individuals convicted of drug and violent crimes.
However, opposition figures argue the review does not absolve the presidency of error.
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, described the U-turn as a failure of leadership.
“Let’s be clear: this U-turn is not an act of wisdom, it’s an act of shame,” Shaibu said.
“If the public had kept quiet, would convicted drug lords and kidnappers be walking free today under the President’s blessing?”
He added, “This pattern has become too familiar — announce the unthinkable, watch the country erupt, then hurriedly reverse course as if governance is a game of trial and error.”
