Bola Tinubu Reverses Pardons for Criminal Convicts Following Public Out cry

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the removal of several individuals convicted of serious crimes—including murder, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and unlawful firearms possession—from his earlier list of presidential pardons and clemencies. Among those affected is Maryam Sanda, who was originally granted clemency after being sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband. Under the revised list released on October 29, 2025, her pardon was revoked and her sentence instead reduced to 12 years’ imprisonment. The reversal follows intense scrutiny from civil society groups such as Amnesty International Nigeria and CISLAC, who warned that the original pardon list risked undermining the rule of law and justice for victims. According to the presidency, the decision was guided by concerns of national security, the gravity of the offences in question, and sensitivity to victims and society at large. Additionally, the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy has been moved from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney‑General has been tasked with issuing new guidelines for the exercise of mercy. This development marks a significant shift in how the presidential prerogative of mercy is being handled in Nigeria, reflecting heightened public and institutional scrutiny over the clemency process.