The Federal Government has clarified that no inmate has been released under the recent presidential pardon.
It said the clemency process is still under legal and administrative review to ensure due process.
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The Federal Government has stated that no inmate has been released under the recently approved Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, clarifying that the process is still undergoing administrative and legal review.
The clarification follows reports that President Bola Tinubu had approved clemency for 175 individuals recommended by the Council of State, including historical figures such as the late Sir Herbert Macaulay, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Major General Mamman Vatsa. The reported list also mentioned Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, among others whose sentences were said to have been commuted or reduced on the advice of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), explained that the approval granted by the President has not yet translated into any physical release, as the necessary administrative and verification procedures are still ongoing.
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to clarify that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of the President’s prerogative of mercy has been released,” Fagbemi said. “The process is currently at the final review stage to ensure that all names and recommendations strictly comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any release order is issued.”
He further noted that upon completion of the review, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service will receive formal authorization to execute the approved releases.
Fagbemi stressed that the Federal Government is committed to transparency and due process in exercising the prerogative of mercy, adding that public interest in the matter is a positive reflection of citizens’ engagement with democratic governance.
“There is no delay,” he added. “The process is simply following the law to ensure that only eligible individuals benefit from the President’s mercy. The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness.”
The Attorney-General assured that updates will be provided once the verification process concludes and official instructions are issued to the correctional authorities.
