President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved and signed the Instrument of Clemency and Pardons, exercising his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy to grant relief to selected inmates across the country.
The move follows extensive consultations with the Council of State and stakeholders, after which the President ordered a review of the initial list of beneficiaries to ensure fairness, justice, and national security.
As part of the review, individuals convicted of serious crimes — including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and firearms offences — were excluded from the final list. Some other inmates had their sentences commuted rather than fully pardoned.
According to the Presidency, the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to balancing justice for offenders with sensitivity toward victims and public safety concerns.
To strengthen transparency and align future exercises with best practices, President Tinubu also directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The President further instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop new guidelines for granting presidential mercy, including mandatory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the reforms are part of the President’s broader efforts to promote judicial accountability and improve the administration of justice in Nigeria.
