There were strong indications on Thursday that some names included in President Bola Tinubu’s recent presidential pardon list may be dropped following widespread outrage.
The Editor Nigeria understands that the pardon, endorsed by the Council of State and presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had drawn sharp criticism over the inclusion of high-profile convicts linked to violent crimes, drug trafficking, and corruption.
According to the Presidency, the list of 175 beneficiaries was divided into six categories: those granted pardon, posthumous pardon (including Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine), victims of the Ogoni Nine honoured, presidential clemency beneficiaries, inmates recommended for reduced prison terms, and death row inmates whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
The move, officials said, was part of efforts to decongest prisons and promote reconciliation.
Amid the backlash, the Attorney-General clarified that the process had not been concluded.
“The Presidential Prerogative of Mercy recently announced is still under review and has not been finalised,” Fagbemi stated, noting that agencies were still scrutinising the list.
Sources told Punch that anti-graft and security 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), raised strong objections.
They reportedly warned that releasing certain individuals “smuggled” into the list could undermine the fight against organised crime.
Among those listed was Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2017 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. While sections of Bello’s family condemned the pardon, his father, Alhaji Bello Isa, and Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, publicly accepted it.
Also on the list was notorious kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, whose network of detention camps across Delta, Edo, Rivers, Abia, Benue, and Oyo states once terrorised the region.
Major S. Alabi Akubo, jailed for illegal possession of prohibited firearms, was also pardoned.
Presidency Under Pressure
The uproar has rekindled debate over transparency in Nigeria’s clemency process. Critics say the inclusion of violent offenders ridicules the justice system.
One presidential aide told Punch that the controversy had forced the Presidency to consider revising the list.
The presidential aide said, “The list was too wide, and some of the names did not pass the necessary security vetting.
“The EFCC, NDLEA, and other security agencies have insisted that the list must be pruned down. Not all the names came from the committee that reviewed the cases.”
Officials familiar with the matter also said the final list would likely exclude those whose release could pose a security risk or undermine confidence in the justice system.
A senior official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told Punch on Thursday, “The list will be trimmed to reflect only those who genuinely deserve the President’s mercy. Those whose inclusion created controversy will be expunged.”
Another official in one of the security agencies said, “Some low-level officers at the level of the committee smuggled in some names. Obviously, the President is unaware of some of the names on that list.
“They have now sent the list to NDLEA and other security agencies for review. Some of the names on the list did not meet the criteria. Some low-level officers bypassed the criteria.
“In fact, some of the cases are still fresh. The good thing is that they are still in custody; they have not been released.”
An official from one of the anti-graft agencies also spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said, “I am aware the ICPC and the police are not comfortable with the list because the names of some convicts who are not supposed to be on that list are there.”
