Fatimah Otunsanya
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has ordered a multi-agency review of the proposed presidential pardon list.
Involved in the probe of the list are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the police.
The exercise may result in more than half of the nominees being dropped.
President Bola Tinubu is said to be awaiting the submission of the vetted list for his final endorsement, amid efforts to ensure only eligible beneficiaries were cleared.
The President had, in the exercise of his constitutional powers, granted clemency to 175 persons convicted of various offences.
The pardon was announced by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), at the Council of State meeting held on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
Fagbemi (SAN) listed illegal miners, white-collar convicts, drug offenders, foreigners, Maj Gen Mamman Vatsa, Prof Magaji Garba, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, as well as capital offenders such as Maryam Sanda, among the 175 convicts and former convicts who received presidential pardon.
The full list was released in a statement from the Presidency on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
The list of beneficiaries was divided into six categories: Those granted pardon, posthumous pardon (including the Ogoni Nine), victims of the Ogoni Nine honoured, presidential clemency (clemency beneficiaries), inmates recommended for reduced terms of imprisonment, and inmates on death row whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
However, the inclusion of some names on the list sparked controversy, as security, law enforcement, and anti-graft agencies opposed the presence of certain high-profile offenders.
The EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, NDLEA, police, among others, reportedly moved to halt the release of some individuals on the list.