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Full List of Beneficiaries of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Pardon Finally Released

By DocuNews Central | October 2025 | Copyright Reserved

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — The Presidency released the official pardon and clemency list. (DocuNews Central)

Nigeria Reacts as Tinubu Unveils the Complete Pardon List

Nigeria woke up to an official statement from Aso Rock after the Presidency published the full list of beneficiaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon, clemency and commutation. The list, posted by the State House, has generated strong reactions across political, legal and civil-society circles.

The release includes a mixture of full pardons, posthumous pardons, commutations, sentence reductions and clemency for inmates who met the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) criteria. The State House / Presidency document is the authoritative source for the names reproduced below.

Why This Matters

Presidential pardons are a constitutional power with major legal and social consequences. This round is notable for three reasons:

  • It includes a number of posthumous pardons that correct historic injustices.
  • It lists several high-profile modern cases that drew public attention.
  • It commuted the sentences of some death-row inmates to life imprisonment, which has legal and moral implications.

The Official List (As Released by the Presidency)

Note: The State House press release reproduces the full set of names. Below we reproduce the list as published by the Presidency. Where the release is lengthy, we include the main categories and representative names; for the verbatim full 175-name PDF or press release, see the State House site.

PARDONED (Selected named persons)

  1. Nweke Francis Chibueze — life sentence at Kirikiri for cocaine.
  2. Dr. Nwogu Peters — 17-year sentence for fraud (2013).
  3. Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba — convicted for fraud (sentence served).
  4. Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar — fined ₦150M in ICPC case.
  5. Ayinla Saadu Alanamu — seven years (bribery, 2019).
  6. Hon. Farouk M. Lawan — former lawmaker (convicted of bribery, 2021).

POSTHUMOUS PARDONS

  1. Sir Herbert Macaulay — historic colonial-era case.
  2. Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa — executed in 1986 (posthumous correction).

THE OGONI NINE — POSTHUMOUSLY PARDONED

  1. Ken Saro-Wiwa
  2. Saturday Dobee
  3. Nordu Eawa
  4. Daniel Gbooko
  5. Paul Levera
  6. Felix Nuate
  7. Baribor Bera
  8. Barinem Kiobel
  9. John Kpuine

VICTIMS OF OGONI TRIAL HONOURED (Posthumous Recognition)

  • Chief Albert Badey
  • Chief Edward Kobaru
  • Chief Samuel Orage
  • Chief Theophilus Orage

The Presidency also listed dozens of inmates granted presidential clemency or recommended for reduced terms. Below are representative entries from the clemency list (the official release contains the full set):

PRESIDENTIAL CLEMENCY — Representative names (first 30 shown)

  1. Aluagwu Lawrence — sentenced for Indian hemp (2015).
  2. Ben Friday — sentenced for marijuana (2023).
  3. Oroke Micheal Chibueze — jailed for cannabis sativa (2023).
  4. Kelvin Christopher Smith — convicted for importing cocaine.
  5. Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka — 5 years for cocaine importation.
  6. Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi — convicted for Tramadol.
  7. Ahmed Adeyemo — 15-year sentence for drugs.
  8. Adeniyi Jimoh — 15-year sentence, served nine years.
  9. Seun Omirinde — 15 years for drugs, served nine years.
  10. Adesanya Olufemi Paul — 14 years for theft.
  11. Ife Yusuf — convicted for human trafficking.
  12. Daniel Bodunwa — 10 years for document forgery.
  13. Fidelis Michael — 5 years for cannabis.
  14. Suru Akande — 5 years for cannabis sativa.
  15. Safiyanu Umar — possessed 5kg cannabis (2023).
  16. Dahiru Abdullahi — 21 years for weapon possession.
  17. Hamza Abubakar — 5 years for Indian hemp.
  18. Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki — 7 years for breach of trust.
  19. Mujibu Muhammad — 5 years for cannabis.
  20. Emmanuel Eze — 5 years for heroin possession.
  21. Bala Azika Yahaya — 15 years for cannabis.
  22. Lina Kusum Wilson — death sentence commuted to life.
  23. Buhari Sani — 5 years for cannabis.
  24. Mohammed Musa — 5 years for cannabis.
  25. Muharazu Abubakar — 5 years for Indian hemp.
  26. Ibrahim Yusuf — 5 years for cannabis.
  27. Saad Ahmed Madaki — convicted for advance fee fraud (419).
  28. Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa — life imprisonment for murder (commuted).
  29. Richard Ayuba — 5 years for Indian hemp.
  30. Adam Abubakar — 5 years for Tramadol.

For the verbatim, full 175-name list, download or view the State House press release on the official site: statehouse.gov.ng. The Presidency’s document is the primary authoritative source for the complete list and category details.

Reduction of Sentences and Commutation

The release also identified several inmates previously on death row whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. Notable names listed for commutation include:

  • Emmanuel Baba
  • Emmanuel Gladstone
  • Moses Ayodele Olurunfemi
  • Abubakar Usman
  • Khalifa Umar
  • Benjamin Ekeze
  • Mohammed Umar

Each commutation followed the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and verification by the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The Presidency’s Rationale

The State House explained that decisions were made after careful review. The key factors cited included good conduct in custody, remorse, rehabilitation, age, ill-health, vocational training, and historic redress for wrongful convictions. The Presidency emphasized that the process followed legal and constitutional provisions.

Public Reactions, Political Impact and Media Coverage

The announcement produced mixed reactions. Human-rights defenders and prison-reform advocates welcomed measures aimed at decongesting prisons and correcting past wrongs. Conversely, critics questioned the inclusion of certain high-profile convicts and called for greater transparency in selection criteria.

Major national outlets that reported and analysed the release include Vanguard, Premium Times, The Guardian, The Nation, and ICIR Nigeria. Each used the Presidency’s press release as the primary source while adding expert commentary and public reaction.

Legal Context: The President’s Prerogative of Mercy

Under Section 175 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the President may grant pardons or commute sentences. Legal experts stress that while constitutional, such acts demand strict scrutiny, especially where capital offences are involved. Many observers urged clearer criteria and publication of the committee’s reasoning to sustain public trust.

How DocuNews Central Verified the List

DocuNews Central reproduced the names based on the official State House press release and cross-checked the most load-bearing claims with multiple reputable national newsrooms. Where outlets varied in reported numbers (some reported 147, others 175), we deferred to the State House as the authoritative source.

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Final Thoughts

The release of the presidential pardon list is an important moment for Nigeria’s justice system. While the Presidency’s move addresses rehabilitation, prison congestion, and historical wrongs, it also raises legitimate questions about transparency, fairness and the criteria used for clemency. DocuNews Central will continue to follow up with detailed analyses and the full official documents.

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Sources: State House Press Release — Details of the Presidential Pardon and Clemency (State House); Vanguard; Premium Times; The Guardian; The Nation; ICIR Nigeria.

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