By Amofokhai Williams
The Federal Government has clarified that no inmate has been released yet under the ongoing presidential pardon exercise, contrary to media reports suggesting that beneficiaries of clemency had already regained freedom.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the government stressed that the pardon process is still under review and has not yet reached the stage of implementation.
“The presidential pardon exercise is at its final administrative stage. Each recommendation is being carefully vetted to ensure full compliance with legal and procedural requirements before instruments of release are issued,” the statement read.
According to The Alarmee, the exercise, conducted under President Bola Tinubu’s prerogative of mercy, is aimed at granting clemency to select convicts, including those whose sentences have been commuted or fully remitted.
The list of recommended pardons has already been approved at the Council of State.
Fagbemi said the Ministry of Justice is carrying out final legal and administrative checks on the list to ensure all nominees meet statutory requirements.
He added that only after completion of these checks will the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service receive formal release instruments to implement the pardons.
The list includes 175 convicts and ex-convicts, spanning a range of cases from historical figures and former officials to individuals convicted of serious crimes such as terrorism, murder, and drug-related offenses.
Some high-profile names, such as Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of murdering her husband, are reportedly on the list, although their actual release remains pending.
The government emphasised that the delay in release is procedural, not a halt, and is necessary to ensure transparency, legality, and fairness.
The pardon announcement has sparked both support and criticism, with some advocating for clemency while others question the inclusion of certain convicts.
The Federal Ministry of Justice urged the public to await the official issuance of release instruments and to disregard speculative reports suggesting that pardons had already been executed.
“No inmate approved for clemency has been freed from detention. The process is ongoing and proceeding carefully to uphold legal integrity,” the statement affirmed.
The FG reiterated its commitment to fairness and accountability, assuring that all actions related to the presidential pardon will comply fully with Nigerian law.
