Under Fire: Tinubu Moves To Drop Controversial Names From Presidential Pardon List Amid National Outcry

Anti-graft, security agencies raise alarm over “smuggled names” — EFCC, NDLEA insist list must be pruned down
AGF Fagbemi says process still under review, assures Nigerians of transparency and due diligence

In what appears to be a major twist in the unfolding controversy surrounding the recent presidential pardon list, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be forced to drop several controversial names following mounting public outrage and objections from key security and anti-corruption agencies.

The development comes days after the Council of State, chaired by President Tinubu, approved a list of 175 convicts and former convicts recommended for clemency under the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The list, released on October 11, 2025, was intended to mark a national occasion, promote reconciliation, and decongest Nigeria’s overcrowded correctional facilities. However, it quickly became a lightning rod for criticism after it was revealed that several individuals convicted of violent crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and corruption, had been included among those granted presidential mercy.

Among the most contentious names was Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2017 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, whom she stabbed to death. Although some members of Bello’s family rejected her pardon, her father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, joined Bello’s father, Alhaji Bello Isa, in publicly accepting the President’s gesture.

Also featured were Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight (posthumously honoured), Major S. Alabi Akubo, jailed for illegal firearms possession, and Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, a notorious kidnap kingpin whose reign of terror spanned six states across the South-South and South-East.

While the inclusion of some historical and political figures like Herbert Macaulay and Farouk Lawan drew little criticism, the presence of convicted killers, drug couriers, and economic saboteurs on the list sparked outrage from civil society groups, victims’ families, and the wider public.

Security Agencies Raise the Red Flag

A top presidential aide, who spoke to The PUNCH under condition of anonymity, revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had strongly objected to several names on the list, describing them as “smuggled” and “unvetted.”

“The EFCC, NDLEA, and other security agencies have insisted that the list must be reviewed. Some of the names did not pass the required security clearance. They were not part of those recommended by the advisory committee,” the source disclosed.

Another senior security official noted that some of the convicts in question “can never be released,” especially those involved in the killing of security operatives, large-scale drug operations, and kidnapping.

“There are fresh cases among them, and some are still under trial in other matters. Obviously, the President is unaware that some of these names found their way onto the list,” the official added.

Fagbemi Responds, Says Process Still Under Review

Reacting to the growing controversy, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), clarified on Thursday that no inmate approved for clemency had yet been released, stressing that the process was still undergoing legal and administrative review.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Fagbemi said:

> “The process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure all names and recommendations comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued.”

He added that the post-approval phase allows for a final verification to ensure that no unqualified or controversial individual benefits from the President’s mercy, describing it as part of government’s commitment to transparency, justice, and due diligence.

> “There is no delay in the process; it is simply following the law to the letter to ensure that only those duly qualified benefit from the President’s mercy. The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness,” Fagbemi emphasised.

Public outrage continues to build as human rights advocates, lawyers, and victims’ families call for a complete overhaul of the pardon process, accusing unnamed insiders of exploiting the system for personal or political gain.

Civil society groups have demanded that President Tinubu order a forensic audit of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, insisting that the integrity of the Nigerian justice system must not be compromised in the name of compassion.

A Presidency at a Crossroads

As the controversy deepens, multiple sources within the Presidency have hinted that the final list will be trimmed to remove names that could undermine public trust or pose security risks.

“The list will be pruned down to reflect only those who genuinely deserve clemency. Those whose inclusion has caused national uproar will be dropped,” a senior official told The PUNCH.

For now, all eyes remain on Aso Rock as Nigerians await a revised pardon list — one that may test the Tinubu administration’s commitment to justice, transparency, and the rule of law.