The Federal Government has confirmed that no inmate has yet been released under President Bola Tinubu’s recent exercise of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), clarified on Thursday that the process remains in its “final administrative stage” and that formal instruments of release are still being prepared.
The Council of State had earlier approved clemency for 174 individuals, including notable figures such as nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay (posthumous), environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed in 1986. The list also includes Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2020 for killing her husband, and several inmates whose sentences were reduced or commuted.
Fagbemi explained that although the recommendations were approved, the law demands thorough verification to ensure every listed name meets legal and procedural standards before any order of release can be issued.
“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 minister stated.
Impact Snapshots
- Legal Sector: Lawyers and civil rights advocates say the AGF’s clarification strengthens transparency, showing that mercy must follow due process, not populism.
- Correctional Service: The Controller-General awaits the official instrument before any inmate can be freed.
- Public Sentiment: The inclusion of iconic figures like Ken Saro-Wiwa has drawn emotional support from Niger Delta communities, while victims’ families of violent crimes demand restraint.
- Policy Analysts: Note that the clarification also protects the Presidency from premature political backlash over a sensitive issue that blends morality with governance optics.
The clarification follows intense public debate after the announcement of Tinubu’s clemency list triggered moral and political controversy. Human rights groups hailed the inclusion of long-dead activists as symbolic healing, but others questioned the presence of contentious names like Maryam Sanda, arguing that mercy must not undermine justice.
The debate reflects Nigeria’s recurring tension between compassion and accountability — how far presidential mercy should go without eroding faith in the judicial process. Fagbemi’s intervention appears aimed at cooling that national conversation and reaffirming procedural integrity.
The clemency process carries heavy reputational currency. For the administration, it’s a test of moral leadership and international image management. Transparency in the mercy list could strengthen Nigeria’s rule-of-law credentials, reassuring investors and rights institutions that reforms are backed by procedural discipline — not political expedience.
