In a sweeping act of presidential mercy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted clemency, pardon, or sentence commutation to 175 convicts and former convicts across Nigeria. Among those included are prominent names such as Major General Mamman Vatsa (posthumously pardoned), Major S. A. Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni Nine.
The decision was made following a recommendation from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), and was announced via the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the official breakdown, the clemency exercise includes:
Full pardon to two inmates and 15 former convicts (11 of them posthumous)
- Presidential clemency granted to 82 inmates
- Sentence commutation or reduction for 65 convicts
- Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment for seven inmates
The announcement coincided with the National Council of State meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The presidency stated that the clemency decisions were based on criteria such as remorse, good conduct, advanced age, enrolment in educational or vocational reform programmes (such as the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN), and demonstrated behavioural transformation.
Full List of Beneficiaries
Below is the full list of beneficiaries, organized by category as released by the Presidency.
Pardoned (full pardon)
- Nweke Francis Chibueze, aged 44, serving life for cocaine
- Dr. Nwogu Peters, aged 67 (17-year fraud sentence, 2013)
- Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, aged 63
- Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar, aged 58 (ICPC fine case, 2023)
- Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, aged 63 (bribery, 2019)
- Hon. Farouk M. Lawan, aged 62 (Corrupt Practices conviction, 2021)
Posthumous Pardon
- Sir Herbert Macaulay (colonial conviction, 1913)
- Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (executed 1986)
Posthumous Pardon — The Ogoni Nine
- Ken Saro-Wiwa
- Saturday Dobee
- Nordu Eawa
- Daniel Gbooko
- Paul Levera
- Felix Nuate
- Baribor Bera
- Barinem Kiobel
- John Kpuine
Victims of the Ogoni Nine Honoured (not beneficiaries of pardon)
- Chief Albert Badey
- Chief Edward Kobaru
- Chief Samuel Orage
- Chief Theophilus Orage
Presidential Clemency (inmates granted clemency, not full pardon or commutation)
- Aluagwu Lawrence, aged 47, Indian hemp
- Ben Friday, aged 60, marijuana / fine option
- Oroke Micheal Chibueze, aged 21, cannabis
- Kelvin Christopher Smith, 42, importing cocaine
- Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka, 31, importing cocaine
- Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi, 47, Tramadol
- Ahmed Adeyemo, 38, cannabis (served ~9 years)
- Adeniyi Jimoh, 31, drug offence (served ~9 years)
- Seun Omirinde, 39, drug offence (served ~9 years)
- Adesanya Olufemi Paul, 61, theft (served ~8 years)
- Ife Yusuf, 37, human trafficking
- Daniel Bodunwa, 43, fraud / forging land document
- Fidelis Michael, 40, cannabis
- Suru Akande, 52, cannabis
- Safiyanu Umar, 56, possession of cannabis (5 kg)
- Dahiru Abdullahi, 46, firearms offence
- Hamza Abubakar, 37, cannabis
- Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki, 52, criminal breach of trust
- Mujibu Muhammad, 30, cannabis
- Emmanuel Eze, 49, heroin
- Bala Azika Yahaya, 70, cannabis
- Lina Kusum Wilson, 34, culpable homicide (had death sentence)
- Buhari Sani, 33, cannabis
- Mohammed Musa, 27, cannabis
- Muharazu Abubakar, 37, selling cannabis
- Ibrahim Yusuf, 34, cannabis possession
- Saad Ahmed Madaki, 72, 419 offence
- Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa, 72, murder (life sentence)
- Richard Ayuba, 38, cannabis offence
- Adam Abubakar, 30, tramadol possession
- Emmanuel Yusuf, 34, tramadol possession
- Edwin Nnazor, 60, cannabis
- Chinedu Stanley, 34, faux lubricant oil / fraud
- Joseph Nwanoka, 42, drugs
- Johnny Ntheru, 63, life sentence for robbery
- John Omotiye, 28, pipeline vandalism
- Nsikat Edet Harry, 37, possession of multiple narcotics
- Jonathan Asuquo, 28, cannabis / other drugs
- Prince Samuel Peters, 54, obtaining money by false pretence
- Babangida Saliu, 35, unlawful mining
- Adamu Sanni, 39, unlawful mining
- Abdulkarem Salisu, 30, unlawful mining
- Abdulaziz Lawal, 18, unlawful mining
- Abdulrahman Babangida, 20, unlawful mining
- Maharazu Alidu, 22, unlawful mining
- Zaharadeen Baliue, 38, unlawful mining
- Babangida Usman, 30, unlawful mining
- Zayyanu Abdullahi, 28, unlawful mining
- Bashir Garuba, 20, unlawful mining
- Imam Suleman, 25, unlawful mining
- Abbeh Amisu, 28, unlawful mining
- Lawani Lurwanu, 20, unlawful mining
- Yusuf Alhassan, 33, unlawful mining
- Abdulahi Isah, 25, unlawful mining
- Zayanu Bello, 35, unlawful mining
- Habeeb Suleman, 22, unlawful mining
- Jubrin Sahabi, 23, unlawful mining
- Shefiu Umar, 28, unlawful mining
- Seidu Abubakar, 29, unlawful mining
- Haruna Abubakar, 24, unlawful mining
- Rabiu Seidu, 26, unlawful mining
- Macha Kuru, 25, unlawful mining
- Zahradeen Aminu, 25, unlawful mining
- Nazipi Musa, 25, unlawful mining
- Abdullahi Musa, 30, unlawful mining
- Habibu Safiu, 20, unlawful mining
- Husseni Sani, 21, unlawful mining
- Musa Lawali, 25, unlawful mining
- Suleiman Lawal, 23, unlawful mining
- Yusuf Iliyasu, 21, unlawful mining
- Sebiyu Aliyu, 20, unlawful mining
- Halliru Sani, 18, unlawful mining
- Shittu Aliyu, 30, unlawful mining
- Sanusi Aminu, 27, unlawful mining
- Isiaka Adamu, 40, unlawful mining
- Mamman Ibrahim, 50, unlawful mining
- Shuaibu Abdullahi, 35, unlawful mining
- Sanusi Adamu, 28, unlawful mining
- Sadi Musa, 20, unlawful mining
- Haruna Isah, 35, unlawful mining
- Abiodun Elemero, 43, life sentence for cocaine hawking
- Maryam Sanda, 37, culpable homicide, had been on death row
List of Inmates Recommended for Reduced Term of Imprisonment / Sentence Reduction
- Yusuf Owolabi, 36, life → 12 years
- Ifeanyi Eze, 33, life → 12 years
- Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman, 59, life → 10 years
- Shettima Maaji Arfo, 54, 7 years → 4 years
- Ajasper Benzeger, 69, 20 years → 12 years
- Ifenna Kennechukwu, 42, 20 years → 12 years
- Mgbeike Matthew, 45, 20 years → 12 years
- Patrick Mensah, 40, 17 years → 11 years
- Obi Edwin Chukwu, 43, 15 years → 10 years
- Tunde Balogun, 32, 15 years → 10 years
- Lima Pereira Erick Diego, 27, 15 years or fine → 10 years
- Uchegbu Emeka Michael, 37, 15 years or fine → 10 years
- Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen, 46, 15 years → 10 years
- Napolo Osariemen, 61, 15 years → 7 years
- Patricia Echoe Igninovia, 61, 7 years → 5 years
- Odeyemi Omolaram, 65, 25 years → 12 years
- Vera Daniel Ifork, 29, 10 years → 8 years
- Gabriel Juliet Chidimma, 32, 6 years → 4 years
- Dias Santos Marcia Christiana, 44, 15 years → 10 years
- Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed, 71, 7 years → 5 years
- Alhaji Nasiru Ogara Adinoyi, 65, 14 years → 7 years
- Chief Emeka Agbodike, 69, 7 years → 3 years
- Isaac Justina, 40, 10 years → 4 years
- Aishat Kehinde, 38, 5 years → 4 years
- Helen Solomon, 68, 5 years → 3 years
- Okoye Tochukwu, 43, 6 years → 3 years
- Ugwueze Paul, 38, 6 years → 3 years
- Mutsapha Ahmed, 46, 7 years → 5 years
- Abubakar Mamman, 38, 10 years → 7 years
- Muhammed Bello Musa, 35, 10 years → 7 years
- Nnamdi Anene, 67, life → 20 years
- Alhaji Abubakar Tanko, 61, 30 years → 20 years
- Chisom Francis Wisdom, 30, 20 years → 12 years
- Innocent Brown Idiong, 60, 10 years → 6 years
- Iniobong Imaeyen Ntukidem, 46, 7 years → 5 years
- Ada Audu, 72, 7 years → 4 years
- Bukar Adamu, 40, 20 years → 9 years
- Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe, 44, 20 years → 13 years
- Frank Azuekor, 42, 20 years → 13 years
- Chukwukelu Sunday Calisthus, 47, life → 13 years
- Professor Magaji Garba, 67, 7 years → 4 years
- Markus Yusuf, 41, 13 years → 5 years
- Samson Ajayi, 31, 15 years → 7 years
- Iyabo Binyoyo, 49, 10 years → 9 years
- Oladele Felix, 49, 5 years → 4 years
- Rakiya Beida, 33, 7 years → 3 years
- Nriagu Augustine Ifeanyi, 44, 10 years → 8 years
- Chukwudi Destiny, 36, 6 years → 4 years
- Felix Rotimi Esemokhai, 47, 5 years → 4 years
- Major S. A. Akubo, 62, life → 20 years
- John Ibiam, 39, 15 years → 10 years
- Omoka Aja, 40, 15 years → 10 years
- Chief Jonathan Alatoru, 66, 7 years → 5 years
- Umanah Ekaette Umanah, 70, 10 years → 5 years
- Utom Obong Thomson Udoaka, 60, 7 years → 5 years
- Jude Saka Ebaragha, 44, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Frank Insort Abaka, 46, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Shina Alolo, 42, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Joshua Iwiki, 50, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- David Akinseye, 44, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Ahmed Toyin, 46, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Shobajo Saheed, 57, 12 years → 6 years (fine waived)
- Adamole Philip, 52, 12 years → 7 years (fine waived)
- Mathew Masi, 39, 12 years → 6 years
- Bright Agbedeyi, 46, 12 years → (reprieve)
Death Row Sentences Commuted to Life Imprisonment
- Emmanuel Baba, 38 — death sentence for culpable homicide → life sentence
- Emmanuel Gladstone, 45 — death sentence for murder → life
- Moses Ayodele Olorunfemi, 51 — death sentence for culpable homicide → life
- Abubakar Usman, 59 — death sentence → life
- Khalifa Umar, 37 — death sentence → life
- Benjamin Ekeze, 40 — death sentence for armed robbery → life
- Mohammed Umar, 43 — death sentence for culpable homicide → life
Analysis & Context
Several features of the clemency move demand attention. The inclusion of posthumous pardons for figures long dead — notably Herbert Macaulay and the Ogoni Nine — serve symbolic and historical corrective purposes, reminding many of past injustices under colonial and military rule.
Yet in practical terms, forgiving the dead does little to address the lived injustices of those still alive — especially average Nigerians facing long waits in detention, underfunded courts, and overcrowded prisons.
The clemency beneficiaries include politicians, white-collar offenders, high-profile cases, but also many convicted of drug offences, mining violations, theft, and other crimes.
Critics will argue that the timing and composition of the list appear selective, potentially favouring those with influence, legal access, or political significance. Others point out that thousands of detainees remain in limbo without representation or access to justice — yet none featured in this round of mercy.
To be more than a symbolic gesture, this clemency must be accompanied by systemic reforms: legal aid expansion, prison decongestion, accelerated trials, and deeper oversight of judicial processes.
But regardless of its limitations, the release and pardoning of 175 individuals — especially when it includes controversial convictions and historic cases — will surely be remembered as one of the most expansive acts of presidential mercy in Nigeria’s recent history.
