President Bola Ahmed TinubuPublic outrage and objections from anti-graft and security agencies prompt a review of the presidential clemency list; AGF Fagbemi confirms no inmate has yet been released as due diligence continues.
President Bola Tinubu’s recently approved presidential pardon list may undergo significant revision following mounting public criticism and strong objections from key anti-graft and security agencies.
Reliable sources within the Presidency revealed on Thursday that several controversial names earlier listed for clemency may be removed after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other security bodies raised red flags over certain individuals included in the list.
The pardon list, approved by the Council of State and presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was intended to promote national reconciliation and decongest the nation’s correctional centres. However, it has since sparked widespread outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted for violent crimes, corruption, and other grave offences.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the final version of the list is being re-examined to ensure that only deserving convicts benefit from the President’s mercy. A senior government official noted that the list “will be trimmed to reflect only those who genuinely deserve clemency,” emphasizing that names that have attracted controversy or posed potential security risks would be excluded.
The controversy erupted after it was revealed that those granted clemency included individuals such as Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2017 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello; Major S. Alabi Akubo, sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal possession of prohibited firearms; and notorious kidnap kingpin Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, whose criminal network once terrorized several southern states, including Delta, Edo, Rivers, Abia, Benue, and Oyo.
The list also reportedly included convicts involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and the killing of security personnel — entries that provoked a wave of condemnation from civil society groups and security agencies alike.
A high-ranking presidential aide, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that some names were “smuggled into the list” without approval from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which was chaired by the Attorney-General. According to the aide, certain low-level officials allegedly inserted unapproved names during the compilation process, prompting the President to order a thorough review.
“The EFCC, NDLEA, and other agencies insisted that the list was too wide and included individuals who never passed security vetting,” the aide revealed. “Some of these convicts were involved in serious offences that undermine national security and the fight against corruption. Their inclusion cannot stand.”
Another security source disclosed that “some of the proposed beneficiaries can never be released,” particularly those found guilty of murder, kidnapping, and violent crimes against state operatives. The source confirmed that the list has been forwarded to key law enforcement agencies for further scrutiny, and only those meeting the required legal and moral standards will be retained.
Attorney-General Fagbemi, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, confirmed that the clemency process had not yet been finalised and that no inmate had been released under the recent exercise. He explained that the government was currently at the final administrative stage of the process, which involves a comprehensive verification of names and recommendations to ensure full compliance with established legal and procedural requirements.
According to him, “The process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued.”
Fagbemi clarified that after the Council of State’s approval, the next stage is the issuance of a formal instrument implementing the President’s decision for each approved beneficiary. This stage, he said, provides an opportunity for a final review and correction of any irregularities before the Controller-General of Corrections acts on it.
He also acknowledged the growing public scrutiny, describing it as a positive indication of citizens’ commitment to justice and accountability. “There is no delay in the process,” he assured. “It is simply following the law to the letter to ensure that only those duly qualified benefit from the President’s mercy. As soon as all legal and procedural checks are concluded, the public will be duly informed. The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that security and anti-graft agencies have submitted detailed observations to the Presidency, warning that the premature release of certain individuals could jeopardize public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption stance and embolden criminal networks.
An ICPC official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that both the commission and the police had raised concerns about the inclusion of certain convicts who did not meet the set criteria for clemency. “Some names clearly do not qualify for presidential mercy, and we have communicated that to the appropriate authorities,” the official said.
With the controversy still unfolding, the Presidency is expected to release an updated and vetted version of the list in the coming days, excluding those whose inclusion has been deemed inappropriate or potentially dangerous.
For now, no convict under the latest presidential pardon has been released, as the government works to restore confidence in a process that has become a subject of intense national debate.
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