President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted pardon to eighty-six convicts serving various jail terms across the country.
The “Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence , 2025”, was dated October 21, 2025.
Relying on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as Amended, under Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2004, President Tinubu said:
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby grant reduced terms of imprisonment and sentence to the following, that is —persons granted reduced terms of imprisonment and sentence.”
It could be recalled that Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reported that the Presidency, on October 12, 2025, announced that the Ogoni Nine were among 175 persons “who (had) received President Tinubu’s mercy.
The announcement followed a meeting of the National Council of State (NCS).
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, a Prince of the Offa Kingdom in Kwara State, chaired the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Odinkalu Kicks
During the meeting, Prince Fagbemi reportedly presented the proposed list of those to be granted pardon, 175 in total.
According to a report compiled by former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, he kicked against the gesture.
Odinkalu regretted that 93% of the 175 beneficiaries of the prerogative of mercy announced by the president.
He said they involved the most serious crimes known to law anywhere, as follows:
- 29.2% were traffickers in serious drugs, such as Cocaine;
- Another 1.8% were convicted for human trafficking;
- 24% were convicted for unlawful mining (itself the cause of insecurity in places like Zamfara State);
- 13.5% were murderers;
- 12.3% were convicted of looting the country;
- 5.8% were convicted for the crime of hijacking;
- 4.6% were convicted for firearms and robbery respectively;
- and another 1.8% were convicted for kidnapping.
Following the hoopla that greeted the list, the presidency withdrew it for “proper re-evaluation”.
The number was consequently reduced to 86, with more than half ejected off the list.
See the full list of the eighty-six convicts granted pardon by Tinubu below:
