President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a major revision of a planned presidential pardon, removing over 100 individuals—including Mariam Sanda—from the list following widespread public criticism.
The president’s initial list, approved in early October, had sparked controversy for including persons convicted of serious offences such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, and murder. Public outcry intensified over what many Nigerians described as an inappropriate grant of pardon to high-profile convicts.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency announced the removal of “certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc.”
The statement explained that the decision followed “consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter,” which prompted President Tinubu to order “a further review of the initially approved list.”
The presidency acknowledged that the review was necessary due to “the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies and adherence to bilateral obligations.”
It further noted that “the concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.”
Among those removed was Mariam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, a nephew of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Haliru Bello. Her inclusion in the initial pardon list had drawn particular public anger, with many arguing it undermined justice for victims of gender-based violence.
Also removed were several individuals convicted for drug trafficking, a category that had drawn criticism from anti-drug agencies and international partners. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had previously expressed concern that pardoning drug offenders could undermine the country’s efforts against narcotics trafficking.
Other individuals originally included in the new pardon instrument were:
· Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia
· Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar
· Ayinla Saadu Alanamu
· Herbert Macaulay
· Saturday Dobee
· Nordu Eawo
· Daniel Gbooko
· Paul Levera
· Felix Nuale
· Baribor Bera
· Barinem Kiobel
· John Kpuine
The commutation of death sentences to life imprisonment originally included:
· Emmanuel Baba
· Abubakar Usman
· Khalifa Umar
· Mohammed Umar
Additionally, the clemency list featured names such as:
· Oroka Michael Chibueze
· Adesanya Olufemi Paul
· Daniel Bodunwa
· Hamza Abubakar
· Buhari Sani
· Mohammed Musa
· Muharazu Abubakar
· Ibrahim Yusuf
· Saad Ahmed Madaki
· Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa
· Richard Ayuba
· Adam Abubakar
· Emmanuel Yusuf
· Chinedu Stanley
· Johnny Ntheru Udor
President Tinubu’s office stated the review was necessary given “the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general.”
The approved list has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation, while the Secretariat of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee has been moved to the Justice Ministry to improve future exercises.
Human rights groups and families of victims had protested the inclusion of various convicts, arguing that presidential pardons for serious crimes could erode public trust in the justice system and discourage law enforcement officers.
In response to the controversy, President Tinubu has also initiated structural reforms to the pardon process. The Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy has been moved from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Additionally, the president has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation “to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.”
According to the presidency, this will “ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.”
The approved list of beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.
President Tinubu “appreciated the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on this matter” and “reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.”
The original instruments of pardon, signed on October 21, had included posthumous pardons for historical figures such as Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists executed in 1995, as well as Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 for an alleged coup plot. These symbolic pardons remain unaffected by the recent review.
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