The Presidency has released a comprehensive list of 175 convicts and former convicts granted presidential pardon and clemency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the list features a mix of high-profile individuals, illegal miners, white-collar offenders, and persons convicted of capital crimes. The development, the statement noted, reflects President Tinubu’s dedication to justice, rehabilitation, and the correction of historical wrongs.
The Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), recommended the following actions:
Release of two inmates,
Pardon for 15 former convicts (including 11 posthumous cases),
Clemency for 82 inmates, and
Commutation of sentences for 65 others.
Additionally, seven inmates on death row had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment.
Among those pardoned are Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, posthumously cleared of charges related to an alleged 1986 coup plot, and Ken Saro-Wiwa along with the Ogoni Eight, who were convicted in a controversial 1995 murder case.
The clemency also extended to Sir Herbert Macaulay, a revered Nigerian nationalist wrongfully convicted by British colonial authorities in 1913 for alleged misappropriation of funds. The presidency described this gesture as a means of correcting long-standing injustices and honoring the legacies of those who contributed to Nigeria’s national development.
Another notable beneficiary is Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for culpable homicide. Her sentence was mitigated following demonstrated remorse and good conduct during six years at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre. Consideration was also given to the welfare of her two children, as emphasized in her family’s appeal.
Other beneficiaries include former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, convicted of corruption, and Dr. Nwogu Peters, jailed for fraud — both recognized for showing significant reform and completing substantial parts of their sentences.
Similarly, Abiodun Elemero, serving a life term for cocaine trafficking, and Aluagwu Lawrence, jailed for selling Indian hemp, were granted clemency after years of good behavior.
A group of 36 illegal miners, convicted in 2024, also benefited from the pardon. Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis pledged to assist in their rehabilitation and empowerment.
Inmates such as Emmanuel Baba and Moses Ayodele Olurunfemi, both previously on death row, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment in recognition of their remorse and positive transformation. Others, including Professor Magaji Garba and Major S.A. Akubo, received leniency due to advanced age, deteriorating health, or educational accomplishments achieved while in custody.
President Tinubu’s action, the statement emphasized, reflects his belief in second chances and the power of rehabilitation.
> “This gesture embodies the administration’s commitment to justice tempered with mercy, particularly for those who have shown genuine remorse and a willingness to reform,” Onanuga stated.
The pardons and clemency measures were formally presented during a Council of State meeting chaired by President Tinubu. The initiative has since been described as a bold step toward reconciliation, societal reintegration, and the healing of historical wounds.
The Presidency further noted that the move also honours the memory of victims, including Chief Albert Badey and others associated with the Ogoni Nine case, recognizing their enduring place in Nigeria’s complex historical narrative.
