President Bola Tinubu has approved clemency for selected convicts across Nigeria but firmly rejected the release of high-profile inmates such as Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for killing her husband.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu signed the official instruments of clemency and pardons after a thorough review of the initial list submitted to him.
The review, the statement said, excluded inmates convicted of murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and fraud.
This decision automatically ruled out convicts like Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of former PDP National Chairman Haliru Bello.
Her case, which sparked nationwide outrage, is still pending appeal.
The Presidency said Tinubu’s decision was guided by national security considerations, public sensitivity, and the need to ensure justice for victims and their families.
“This action became necessary due to the seriousness and security implications of some offences,” the statement explained.
“The President must be sensitive to the feelings of victims and society while maintaining morale among law enforcement agencies.”
The final list of inmates granted clemency has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for immediate implementation, following Tinubu’s official approval.
In a related directive, Tinubu also ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
He further instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue new guidelines for exercising the prerogative of mercy, ensuring that future recommendations are made only after consultation with key agencies such as the EFCC, NDLEA, Police, and DSS.
According to the Presidency, these reforms will ensure that only deserving convicts who meet all legal and procedural standards benefit from pardons or sentence reductions.
Tinubu reiterated that justice must remain a “three-way traffic” balancing the rights of the accused, the victims, and the broader society.
He emphasized that mercy should never translate into impunity.
“The President remains committed to a justice system that is fair, firm, and transparent,” the statement concluded.