Nigerian Govt Reviews Tinubu’s Presidential Pardon Status

The Federal Government has confirmed that the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy process is still under final administrative review. Officials insist that no convicts granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu have been released from custody yet.

This clarification comes after President Tinubu recently granted clemency to Sir Herbert Macaulay and 174 others, following approval from the Council of State. The list of beneficiaries includes prominent names such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, the Ogoni environmental activist, and Major General Mamman Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 for an alleged coup plot. Also included is Maryam Sanda, who received a death sentence in 2020 for the killing of her husband.

Administrative Review Underway

In a statement released on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, provided crucial details. He explained that the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise is currently in its final administrative phase. This stage involves a meticulous verification and review of the list of beneficiaries.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to clarify that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of the President’s power of prerogative of mercy has been released from custody,” the statement read. This confirms that the implementation of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy is still pending completion of necessary checks.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Final Steps Before Release

The government emphasized that the process includes a standard review to ensure all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements. Only after this verification will formal instruments of release be issued.

“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,” the statement continued. This careful approach to the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy ensures due process is followed before any releases occur. The administration is taking deliberate steps to finalize this act of clemency.