The Federal Government has reaffirmed its dedication to promoting justice and protecting human dignity, following the recent presidential pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu earlier this month.
Tinubu, on October 9, approved a presidential pardon for one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay, and former FCT Minister under the Babangida regime, Major General Mamman Vatsa (retd), among 173 others.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, recommended clemency for 175 individuals. The list included about 50 convicted drug traffickers involved in cocaine, heroin, cannabis, tramadol, and Indian hemp, some of whom had served less than a year in prison for serious offences.
The decision drew public criticism after the Council of State’s approval on October 9.
Responding to the backlash, Fagbemi, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review.”
He added, “This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.”
Fagbemi expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their patience, assuring that “the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while safeguarding national security and social order.”
See the full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Exercise Concluded with Issuance of Instruments of Release
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to announce the formal conclusion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise with the President’s issuance of instruments granting pardon, clemency, and reduced sentences.
It is to be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review. This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.
During this final review, few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.
This exercise underscores the President’s desire to balance justice with compassion and the belief that justice must not only punish, but also reform and redeem. The review was undertaken with meticulous commitment to due process to reinforce the administration’s broader commitment to justice reform and humane correctional practices in line with international standards.
To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice
The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.
I commend the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the process, and assure Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while safeguarding national security and social order.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN),
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
October 29, 2025