President Bola Tinubu has revoked presidential pardons for more than 50 high-profile convicts, including murderers, kidnappers, and drug traffickers, following intense public criticism.
The revised list, released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, excludes notorious figures from the initial 175-inmate clemency announced on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day. This swift reversal came after nationwide anger over the release of serious offenders.
Among those removed is Maryam Sanda, convicted of stabbing her husband to death in 2017, whose death sentence was commuted to 12 years.
Other revoked cases involve armed robbers, drug barons, and kidnappers serving lengthy terms. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led the backlash, calling the original pardons “an act of shame” that undermined justice and emboldened criminality.
Opposition voices and human rights groups joined the outcry. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the move as “a national disgrace” and an abuse of presidential mercy powers.
Victims’ families and civil society warned that freeing violent offenders threatened public safety and eroded trust in the judiciary.
The Presidency explained that the initial list was compiled by the Ministry of Justice and the Prerogative of Mercy Committee. Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi confirmed no convict had been released, as the list was under review due to public reaction.
Tinubu ordered deletions after consulting the Council of State to address security concerns and victim sensitivities.
In a detailed statement, Onanuga noted that some inmates retained partial relief through sentence commutation, but those convicted of grave offences were fully excluded.
The 50-plus revoked pardons were formally withdrawn from the Federal Gazette, with affected inmates to serve their original sentences.
To prevent future controversies, Tinubu directed the relocation of the Prerogative of Mercy Secretariat to the Ministry of Justice and mandated new guidelines, including compulsory consultation with prosecuting agencies.
The revised list has been sent to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation, with the President thanking stakeholders for their feedback. The move has been praised as a rare instance of presidential responsiveness, boosting credibility on justice amid rising insecurity.
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