*Commutes Sanda’s Death Sentence To 12 Years Jail
*Moves Prerogative Of Mercy Committee Secretariat To Justice Ministry
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals earlier convicted for various offences.
Following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration, in furtherance of his discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes, such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were removed from the list, while some who had been earlier been pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.
This followed widespread criticism of the initial list, which included convicted capital offenders, criminals, fraudters and drug barons, as well as “the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies and adherence to bilateral obligations,” according to the Presidency.
Noting that the concept of justice is a three-way traffic for the Accused, Victim and State/Society, the Presidency, in a statement on Wednesday, October 29, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the reviewed list of eligible beneficiaries had been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation, in line with the duly signed instruments of release.
To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, Tinubu 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 also directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, including compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies, to ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.
While appreciating the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on the matter, the President reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.
In In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the President granted reduced terms of imprisonment and sentence to some of the beneficiaries, who were previously granted full pardon.
Those granted pardon were Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia; Hussaini Alhaji Umar; Ayinla Saadu Alanamu; Farouk M. Lawan; Herbert Macaulay; Mamman Jiya Vatsa; Ken Saro Wiwa; Saturday Dobee; Nordu Eawo; Daniel Gbooko; Paul Levera; Felix Nuale; Baribor Bera; Barinem Kiobel; and John Kpuine.
Persons whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment include Emmanuel Baba; Abubakar Usman; Khalifa Umar; and Mohammed Umar.
Those granted clemency include Oroka Michael Chibueze; Adesanya Olufemi Paul; Daniel Bodunwa; Hamza Abubakar; Buhari Sani; Mohammed Musa; Muharazu Abubakar; Ibrahim Yusuf; Saad Ahmed Madaki; Michael Bawa; Richard Ayuba; Adam Abubakar; Emmanuel Yusuf; Chinedu Stanley; and Johnny Ntheru Udor.
Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, was conspicuously missing from the list of those pardoned, as her death penalty was commuted to 12 years imprisonment.
