By Sar Terver
In October 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu invoked his constitutional power under Chapter 6, Part 1, Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution to grant clemency to about 175 Nigerians convicted of various offences, a move many initially hailed as a bold step in restorative justice.
As broadcast journalist and public affairs commentator Lubem Tiav of Radio Benue Makurdi observed, “the recent action of Mr President to grant clemency to over one hundred and seventy-five Nigerians, was not only commendable but a noble and worthy course of action in the spirit and letters of restorative justice.”
Yet, beneath the surface of commendation lay deepening concerns of politicisation, public dissatisfaction, and uneven application of mercy.
In his essay titled “Gaps in Mr. President’s Mercy and the Need for a Closure,” Tiav examined the historical use of presidential pardon and pointed out selective tendencies in Tinubu’s recent gesture.
He cited the extension of mercy to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine as commendable, yet questioned the exclusion of the late Major-General Mamman Vatsa and other officers executed alongside him during the 1986 phantom coup.
He explains to this reporter in chat: “The Ogoni nine were activists led by Ken Saro – Wiwa to advocate for resource control and dividends of the natural resources gotten from their land but the Abacha government killed them under the guise of planning to disrupt the administration and the four were murdered by the community for believing to have helped the government kill their brothers”
He continues in his essay: “The question is, and will linger within time and space, why was Ken Saro-Wiwa pardoned with his friends but in the case of Major-General Vatsa selective justice was applied, and his friends excluded from the largesse of the President’s Amnesty?”
He also referenced posthumous pardons for historical figures such as Herbert Macaulay, describing Tinubu’s decision as “an effort to rewrite and correct injustice committed by British colonialists.”
But he argued that the process must extend equitably to all Nigerians, including “Benue sons extinguished in their prime so that their families and community may feel part of the Nigerian project.”
Following the announcement of the 175-person clemency list, public outrage erupted across the country. Citizens and rights groups expressed dismay over the inclusion of persons convicted for kidnapping, drug-trafficking, armed robbery, and homicide.
A legal practitioner, Emmanuel Omi, in an interview was of the opinion that the act appeared to “smear of political interference.”
He explained that, “The essence of that provision was that there may be a very important personality who has committed a crime and has suffered for a long time and is still needed by the state for certain reasons.
He can be released but not every Tom, Dick, and Harry who has killed but just being pardoned a year or two after life imprisonment or a death sentence has been passed. Mr. President should always consult appropriate quarters before taking such a decision to avoid criticism.”
Similarly, public affairs analyst, Ali Ikpebe faulted the political undertone of the pardon.
“The President is allowed to grant pardons as he sees fit. However, in a democracy, it is important for you to feel the cries of the citizenry.
“Unfortunately, Nigerians do not trust our leaders to act in their best interests. The people instead feel that corruption and nepotism must have played a part,” he said.
Responding to nationwide outrage, the Presidency announced a review of the list. Official sources confirmed that names of individuals convicted for kidnapping, human trafficking, drug-related offences, cyber-fraud, and murder were removed or had their sentences commuted.
A statement from the Federal Government, published in The Guardian and TheCable, explained that the review “became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, and the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims and society in general.”
Among those reportedly removed was Maryam Sanda, convicted for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in 2017. Her proposed commutation was withdrawn.
Other convicts found guilty of terrorism financing, kidnapping, and drug trafficking were also deleted from the list. For Lubem Tiav, the development re-echoed his earlier argument about “gaps in the President’s mercy” and the need for “a comprehensive closure to the matter of clemency and intended healing in the land.”
The revised clemency list has since drawn mixed reactions. A university don, Dr. Hangeior Dega of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Father Adasu University Makurdi, applauded the President’s decision to revoke some pardons, insisting that those convicted of heinous crimes must serve full sentences.
“That encourages impunity in Nigeria. It encourages that sense of injustice — the mockery of the whole thing that if you commit a crime and you are disposed to those in power, you could just be free. The revocation sends a message that nobody is above the law,” he said on Brothers FM, Makurdi.
For his part, Ali Ikpebe maintained that the review was largely a response to public outcry, adding that such sensitivity to citizen opinion was healthy for democracy. “The people must always be heard. The clemency process should reflect justice, not connections or privileges,” he added.
Meanwhile, legal expert Emmanuel Omi urged the President to establish clearer guidelines for future acts of mercy to avoid similar controversies.
The Presidency has consequently taken steps to institutionalize the review mechanism. The Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy has been moved to the Federal Ministry of Justice, with a directive for the Attorney-General to develop detailed implementation guidelines.
This is expected to ensure that future clemency decisions are transparent, guided by national security interests, and free from political manipulation.
As Tiav aptly opined, “The appeal is for clemency to be accorded officers from Benue who contributed to the unity and growth of Nigeria with records of outstanding performance. Then, will we all rise in unison to chant the National Anthem. Though tongue and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’”
According to multiple reports reports, between October 11–13, 2025, the Federal Government reviewed the original list of 175 convicts granted presidential clemency and removed or withheld clemency from several high-profile individuals following widespread criticism.
Below are some of the notable names reportedly affected by the review:
Maryam Sanda – Convicted for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in 2017; sentence commutation withdrawn. Bala Usman – Convicted for kidnapping; excluded from the revised pardon list. Chukwuma Okoro – Convicted for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms; removed.
Abdullahi Tanko – Convicted drug trafficker; clemency revoked. Joy Ekanem – Convicted for human trafficking; deleted from the revised list.
Others include: Chief Okechukwu Anunobi – Fraud and money-laundering convict; clemency rescinded. Saidu Aliyu (DSP rtd.) – Police officer jailed for extrajudicial killing; reviewed out. Adebayo Ibrahim – Convicted cyber-fraudster; removed from the amnesty roll. Nura Bashir – Found guilty of terrorism-related financing; excluded. Kenechukwu Eze – Convicted cult-gang leader serving a life sentence; struck out of the clemency list.
Officials clarified that the review was necessary to protect national security and the sanctity of justice so that only low-risk and reformed inmates were retained for consideration.
