The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has ordered a multi-agency review of the proposed presidential pardon list.
Involved in the probe of the list are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the police.
The exercise may result in more than half of the nominees being dropped.
President Bola Tinubu is said to be awaiting the submission of the vetted list for his final endorsement, amid efforts to ensure only eligible beneficiaries were cleared.
The President had, in the exercise of his constitutional powers, granted clemency to 175 persons convicted of various offences.
The pardon was announced by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), at the Council of State meeting held on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
Fagbemi (SAN) listed illegal miners, white-collar convicts, drug offenders, foreigners, Maj Gen Mamman Vatsa, Prof Magaji Garba, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, as well as capital offenders such as Maryam Sanda, among the 175 convicts and former convicts who received presidential pardon.
The full list was released in a statement from the Presidency on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
The list of beneficiaries was divided into six categories: Those granted pardon, posthumous pardon (including the Ogoni Nine), victims of the Ogoni Nine honoured, presidential clemency (clemency beneficiaries), inmates recommended for reduced terms of imprisonment, and inmates on death row whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
However, the inclusion of some names on the list sparked controversy, as security, law enforcement, and anti-graft agencies opposed the presence of certain high-profile offenders.
The EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, NDLEA, police, among others, reportedly moved to halt the release of some individuals on the list.
On October 16, Fagbemi (SAN), however, clarified that the presidential prerogative of mercy recently announced by the President was still under review and had not been finalised.
His clarification came as some officials alleged that some low-level officers on the committee ‘smuggled in’ names not originally recommended for clemency.
“Some low-level officers at the level of the committee smuggled in some names. Obviously, the President is unaware of some of the names on that list.
“They have now sent the list to NDLEA and other security agencies for review. Some of the names on the list did not meet the criteria. Some low-level officers bypassed the criteria.
“In fact, some of the cases are still fresh. The good thing is that they are still in custody; they have not been released,” an official of one of the security agencies told The PUNCH on condition of anonymity.
Multiple top Federal Government officials with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that the list, currently undergoing a rigorous screening process, had been sent to the EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, and police, among other agencies, for comprehensive background checks by the office of the Attorney General.
A top official in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation told The PUNCH that the process was deliberately designed to prevent a repeat of past controversies surrounding questionable pardons.
“The review is still ongoing. The Office of the Attorney General has circulated the list to all relevant agencies for proper vetting,” the senior official said.
He stressed that the move was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to ensure due diligence and transparency.
An official in the Presidency with knowledge of the matter also revealed that the outcome of the reviews could lead to the removal of a large number of nominees from the list.
“From what I’ve seen, more than half of the names are likely to be dropped once the agencies complete their findings. The government doesn’t want anyone with unresolved corruption or criminal cases to benefit from the process,” the source said.
Similarly, a senior Federal Government official hinted that the NDLEA, EFCC, and ICPC had already begun submitting preliminary observations about certain names on the list, some of whom were reportedly under active investigation.
“The list is now being reviewed by the agencies. Each one is cross-checking the background of the nominees. It’s a standard integrity test before the final list is forwarded to the President for approval,” the official stated.
The Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Attorney General of the Federation, Kamorudeen Ogundele, could not immediately commence on the review when contacted by The PUNCH.
“Yes, the review is ongoing. The ministry is working with relevant agencies to ensure that the process meets all legal and ethical standards,” Ogundele said.
Findings by The PUNCH revealed that the latest scrutiny followed internal concerns within government circles that some individuals recommended for pardon had pending corruption or drug-related cases before law enforcement agencies.
Some names of Politically-Exposed Persons on the list, like Herbert Macaulay, Farouk Lawan, among others, may scale through, as they were not linked to violent crimes and security breaches.
Others like Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2017 for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death, would be reviewed.
While some members of Bello’s family rejected the pardon for Maryam, the father, Alhaji Bello Isa, alongside Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, addressed a press conference to accept the presidential pardon.
Also on the list was Major Alabi Akubo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal possession of prohibited firearms, among others.
There was also one Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, whose kidnapping terror spanned Delta, Edo, Rivers, Abia, Benue, and Oyo states, with detention camps in Warri and Kokori (Delta), Ugbokolo (Benue), Benin City (Edo), and Aba (Abia).
A top official in the Presidency told The PUNCH that the government was determined to ensure that only deserving cases made the final cut.
“This government wants to ensure that no name slips through without clearance from all relevant agencies,” the top official said.
The final list, expected after the completion of all security and integrity checks, will be forwarded to the President for approval.
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