President Bola Tinubu has exercised the presidential prerogative of mercy, granting clemency to 175 prisoners across Nigeria. The National Council of State approved the decision on Thursday.
According to the Presidency, the gesture promotes restorative justice and helps decongest correctional facilities nationwide.
The move shows Tinubu’s commitment to justice and compassion, giving deserving inmates a second chance to reintegrate.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State briefed reporters after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the Council reviewed a report from the Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, presented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.
The report recommended several clemency measures.
Out of the 175 beneficiaries, 82 prisoners received presidential pardons, 65 had their sentences reduced, and seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. However, Governor Sani declined to disclose the names of the beneficiaries.
The presidential prerogative of mercy is rooted in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It grants the president the authority to pardon, reprieve, or commute sentences based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
The committee considers factors such as age, health status, good behavior, and instances of injustice before making its recommendations.
The Council of State, which includes state governors, former heads of state, and other statutory members, approved the clemency list. Authorities expect to release or resentence the affected prisoners within the coming weeks.
During the same meeting, following President Tinubu’s recommendations, the Council also confirmed Dr. Aminu Isa as Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
