President Bola Tinubu has ordered the removal of persons convicted for kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms from the list of beneficiaries under the federal government’s prerogative of mercy.
A statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu took the decision “following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion”.
“Following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” the statement reads.
“Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were deleted from the list. Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.
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”This action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies and adherence to bilateral obligations. The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.
“The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.”
Onanuga said some convicts who were outrightly pardoned in the list released earlier in October had their sentences reduced.
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He noted that the president 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.
BACKGROUND
On October 9, Tinubu granted presidential pardon and other forms of clemency to 175 persons, following the approval of the council of state.
Among the 175 beneficiaries are Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists; Farouk Lawan, a former member of the house of representatives; and Mamman Vatsa, a major general and poet executed in 1986 over alleged treason.
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Drug offenders, illegal miners, white-collar convicts, and foreigners were also among recipients of the presidential pardon.
The list elicited mixed reactions, as some Nigerians argued that some of the beneficiaries should not have been pardoned considering the magnitude of the offence.
One such person granted clemency is Maryam Sanda, the woman who was sentenced to death by hanging for stabbing Bilyamin Mohammed Bello, her husband, to death.
Following the public outrage, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, said the pardon list would be reviewed and that there are different stages involved in the process.
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