Tinubu reverses self on presidential pardon for drug dealers, kidnappers, others

Signs reprieve law, moves prerogative of mercy secretariat to Justice Ministry

Stephen Gbadamosi & Mathew Brangyet

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reversed himself on the presidential pardon granted to about 175 persons at the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025.

Among those earlier pardoned were persons that some Nigerians labelled drug barons, kidnap kingpins and a housewife convicted for the criminal murder of her husband.

The President however ordered a review of the list following nationwide outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed the reversal on Wednesday, stated that 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,” the statement read in part.

Furthermore, to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President, Onanuga added, 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,” the presidency stated.

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.

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

The President also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improvement.

Recall that Nigerians had taken to the social media to condemn the October 9 Council of State ratification of the pardon, citing lack of consequences for impunity.

The nation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, later came out in the heat of the debate to say that the Federal Government only released a provisional list of who to be pardoned.

He said that government still stood to review the announced presidential pardon list.

Onanuga’s statement on Wednesday is expected to lay the debate to rest.

Meanwhile, the final beneficiaries in Commutations of death sentence to life imprisonment are Oroka Michael Chibueze, Adesanya Olufemi Paul, Daniel Bodunwa, Hamza Abubakar, Buhari Sani, Mohammed Musa, Muharazu Abubakar, Ibrahim Yusuf and Saad Ahmed Madaki.

Others are Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa, Richard Ayuba, Adam Abubakar, Emmanuel Yusuf, Chinedu Stanley, Johnny Ntheru Udor, Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar and Mohammed Umar

Those granted Pardon are Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Hussaini Alhaji Umar, Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, Farouk M. Lawan, Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee and Nordu Eawo.

Others are Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuale, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

Those under reduced terms of imprisonment and sentence are Yusuf Owolabi, Ifeanyi Eze, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Patrick Mensah, Obi Edwin Chukwu, Tunde Balogun, Lima Pereira, Erick Diego and Uchegbu Emeka Michael.

Others are Salawu Adebayo, Napolo Osariemen, Odeyemi Omolara, Dias Santos, Marela Christiana, Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed, Isaac Justina, Aishat Kehinde, Helen Solomon, Okoye Tochukwu, Ugwueze Paul, Mustapha Ahmed and Abubakar Mamman.

Also on the list are Muhammed  Musa, Nnamdi Anene, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko, Innocent Brown Idiong, Iniobong Nuikidem, Ada Audu, Buka Adamu, Chukwukelu  Calistus, Markus Yusuf, Samson Ajayi, Rakiya Beida.

Others are Jonathan Alatoru, Umanah Ekaette Umanah, Utom Obong, Thompson Udoaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Frank InsortAbaka, Sluna Alolo, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adamole Philip and Mathew Masi, Bright Agbedeyi, Babangida Saliu, Adamu Sanni, Abdulkareem Salisu and Abdulaziz Lawal.

Also on the list are Abdulrahma Babangida, Muharazu Alidu, Zaharadeen Baliue, Babangida Usman, Zayyanu Abdullahi, Bashir Garuba, Imam Suleman, Abbeb Amisu, Lawani Lurwanu, Yusuf Alhassan, Abdullahi Isah, Zayanu Bello, Habeeb Suleman and Jubria Sahabi.

Others Shefiu Umar, Seidu Abubakar, Haruna Abubakar, Rabiu Seidu, Macha Kuru, Zahradeen Aminu, Nazipi Musa, Abdullahi Musa and Habibu Safiu.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has said President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation for reversing himself after realizing he had been misled into including the names of undeserving Nigerians on the list of those recently pardoned.

President and Chairman of Council of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, said this during the October edition of the NIPR monthly meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Neliaku said: “It is not wrong to make mistakes. It is wrong when you fail to acknowledge your mistake and then pretend that it is the right thing, that is not reputation, that is not integrity, that is imposition of thought.”

He explained that he overheard someone accuse the president of “always reversing himself” and went on to give some examples, including the removal and reinstatement of the Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

To which he replied, “And I said, the mark of leadership is to acknowledge when you are wrong and correct yourself when you realise it. I am among those who believe the sacking of the NTA DG was wrong.

“So, when the President corrected it, I was one of those who felt he did the right thing. I believe that people told him ‘you did what you ought not to have done’ and he realised that he was sold a wrong dummy, which is what happens to leaders.

“When you see what I go through, you will know that leaders are vulnerable to being misadvised and to being misguided. So, if you are not on your toes, you are on your own.

“When leaders are misled and have a way of finding out that they were misled, there is nothing wrong in reversing it. That is rather a mark of leadership.

If the president realised that he was misadvised and owned it and said, ‘I must do the right thing. It is not wrong; that is what reputation is all about”.