President Tinubu signs executive order of clemency, relocates mercy committee secretariat to Justice Ministry.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exercised his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy by granting pardon and clemency to specific individuals previously convicted of various offenses, thereby completing the relevant instruments of release.
Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Spokesperson, disclosed in a statement that, following consultations with the Council of State and consideration of public opinion, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list in order to exercise his discretionary powers under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said “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.
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.”
To guarantee that future exercises fulfill public expectations, adhere to best practices, and avoid controversy, Onanuga noted that the President has delegated tasks from the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and the Ministry of Special Duties to the Ministry of Justice.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu has instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop guidelines governing the exercise of prerogative of mercy. These guidelines will include compulsory consultations with relevant prosecuting agencies, guaranteeing that only those who fully satisfy the specified legal and procedural requirements will receive release instruments.
He disclosed that President Tinubu valued the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on the matter and also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.
