Tinubu Under Pressure to Drop Controversial Names from Pardon List

President Bola Tinubu may revise the recently approved presidential pardon list following mounting public criticism over the inclusion of several high-profile and violent offenders.

The clemency list, endorsed by the Council of State and presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had sparked outrage after it was revealed that individuals convicted of serious crimes were among the beneficiaries.

Typically granted during national events, presidential pardons are intended to ease prison congestion and promote reconciliation. However, the latest list has stirred concerns about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s mercy process.

According to the Presidency, the pardon covered six categories — including posthumous pardons (notably for the Ogoni Nine), presidential clemency, sentence reductions, and commutations from death to life imprisonment.

But controversy erupted after it emerged that the list included names of drug offenders, convicted killers, and high-profile financial criminals. Among them was Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced in 2017 for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

Although Sanda’s father and her late husband’s father have accepted the presidential gesture, some family members of the deceased publicly rejected the pardon.

Also on the list were Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa, Prof. Magaji Garba, Major S. Alabi Akubo, and Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, a notorious kidnap kingpin whose gang once terrorised parts of the South-South and North-Central regions.

The backlash reportedly prompted security and anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to intervene.

Sources within the Presidency said these agencies raised objections, alleging that some names were “smuggled in” and did not pass proper vetting. Officials also warned that freeing certain convicts could undermine ongoing efforts to combat corruption and organised crime.

One senior security source was quoted as saying that some of those listed “can never be released,” especially those convicted for killing security personnel or engaging in kidnapping and terrorism-related offences.

An official involved in the review disclosed that the final list will likely be “pruned down” to exclude individuals whose release could compromise national security or erode public confidence in the justice system.

Meanwhile, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, has clarified that the Prerogative of Mercy exercise remains under review and that no inmate has yet been released.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Fagbemi explained that the final administrative stage involves a “standard legal review” to confirm that all beneficiaries meet constitutional and procedural requirements.

He added, “This stage allows for remedial actions, where necessary, before the instrument of release is signed and forwarded to the Controller-General of Corrections. It is part of due diligence to ensure fairness and compliance.”

Fagbemi thanked Nigerians for their vigilance, saying public scrutiny reflected a healthy demand for justice and accountability.

“There is no delay in the process,” he said. “The law requires thoroughness, not haste. Only those who genuinely qualify will benefit from the President’s mercy.”