President Bola Tinubu has reviewed the list of individuals previously approved for presidential pardon, clemency, or sentence reduction, cutting down the total number of beneficiaries from 175 to 86.
The presidency said the review was undertaken to promote sensitivity to the plight of victims and public sentiment, boost the morale of law enforcement officers, and honour Nigeria’s international obligations.
As part of the revision, names of individuals convicted of grave offences — including kidnapping, drug-related crimes, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession — were expunged from the list.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the review was guided by “the concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the state or society.”
The initial approval of state pardon for dozens of drug offenders had sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians and advocacy groups warning that such leniency could undermine the country’s anti-narcotics efforts.
Under the new arrangement, President Tinubu approved clemency or commutation of sentences for 86 individuals. Among them is Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of murdering her husband in 2017; her death sentence has been reduced to a 12-year jail term.
The presidency explained that the decision followed recommendations by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited remorse, good behaviour, and evidence of vocational training by inmates as major criteria for consideration.
