Tinubu caves under pressure, signs instrument of clemency, pardon sans names of Maryam Sanda, other accused persons

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu characteristically buckled under sustained pressure by signing the instrument of clemency and pardon without the name of Maryam Sanda, who killed her husband, Bilimiyanu Mohammed, and other high-profile convicts.

Tinubu signed the instrument of clemency and pardon to give legitimacy to those put forward by the Prerogative of Mercy Committee.

The lists attached to a statement on Wednesday which confirmed President Tinubu had signed the instrument for the clemency and pardon did not contain her name and the names of some other accused.

The statement, released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not contain the names of Sanda and others.

Sanda’s death sentence was finally confirmed by the Supereme Court in 2020.

Cross sections of Nigerians had kicked when her name appeared in the list of persons pardoned by Tinubu to mark the 65th anniversary of the country.

The same applied to those convicted of high crimes such as drug trafficking and murder.

Following the outcry, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the list was not conclusive.

On Wednesday President Tinubu executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences with the names of Sanda and other not on the list.

Following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration.

This was in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were deleted from the list.

Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.

This action, the statement by Onanuga said, became necessary in view of 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.

The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review, he added in the statement.

He said the approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.

Furthermore, to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

President Tinubu also 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.

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 President appreciated the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on this matter.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.

Here under are the press release and the instrument of clemency and pardon

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS INSTRUMENT OF CLEMENCY AND PARDONS, MOVES SECRETARIAT OF PREROGATIVE OF MERCY COMMITTEE TO JUSTICE MINISTRY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences.

Following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were deleted from the list. Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.

This action became necessary in view of 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. The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.

The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.

Furthermore, to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

President Tinubu also 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.

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 President appreciated the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on this matter.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(information & Strategy)

Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy

Here are the names listed for clemency, pardon, and commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment, effective October 21, 2025:

1. Commutation of Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment

Emmanuel Baba
Abubakar Usman
Khalifa Umar
Mohammed Umar

2. Grant of Pardon

Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia
Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar
Ayinla Saadu Alanama
Hon. Farouk M. Lawan
Herbert Macaulay
Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa
Ken Saro Wiwa
Saturday Dobee
Nordu Eawo
Daniel Gbooko
Paul Levera
Felix Nuale
Baribor Bera
Barinem Kiobel
John Kpuine

3. Grant of Clemency

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