President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally signed three legal instruments granting clemency, commutation of sentences, and presidential pardons to 34 individuals, in the exercise of his constitutional powers under Section 175 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the move follows consultations with the Council of State and takes into account public opinion on the matter.

The president’s review led to the removal of individuals convicted of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms from the list of beneficiaries. Tinubu explained that the decision reflects the administration’s sensitivity to the feelings of victims and the need to strengthen national security and public confidence in law enforcement.

The approved lists, signed on October 21, 2025, have been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.

Full List of Beneficiaries

Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Grant of Clemency), 2025

Oroka Michael Chibueze

Adesanya Olufemi Paul

Daniel Bodunwa

Hamza Abubakar

Buhari Sani

Mohammed Musa

Muharazu Abubakar

Ibrahim Yusuf

Saad Ahmed Madaki

Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa

Richard Ayuba

Adam Abubakar

Emmanuel Yusuf

Chinedu Stanley

Johnny Ntheru Udor

Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Commutation of Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment), 2025

Emmanuel Baba

Abubakar Usman

Khalifa Umar

Mohammed Umar

Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Grant of Pardon), 2025

Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia

Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar

Ayinla Saadu Alanamu

Hon. Farouk M. Lawan

Herbert Macaulay

Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa

Ken Saro-Wiwa

Saturday Dobee

Nordu Eawo

Daniel Gbooko

Paul Levera

Felix Nuale

Baribor Bera

Barinem Kiobel

John Kpuine

President Tinubu also approved the 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, directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue new guidelines for future exercises.

The president emphasized that future reviews will involve mandatory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies, ensuring that only those who meet legal and procedural criteria benefit from the presidential prerogative of mercy.

Tinubu expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their feedback on the clemency process and reiterated his administration’s commitment to justice sector reforms and improving judicial efficiency in the country.

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President Bola Tinubu has revoked the clemency granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to de@th for k!lling her husband in 2017.

Sanda’s name was on the list of those to be released from prison earlier this month.

However, following public outrage, the list was withdrawn, while Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Justice, who chaired the Committee that recommended clemency for the convicts, announced that it would be subjected to further scrutiny.

In a revised list released on Wednesday, Oct. 29, Sanda’s name appeared in the “reduced terms of imprisonment” category.

Her sentence has been commuted from a de@th sentence to 12 years imprisonment. This means she is expected to spend about five more years as she has spent 7 years in prison.

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President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday, October 29, that Russia has successfully tested a nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered underwater drone, known as Poseidon, marking Moscow’s second test of an advanced nuclear weapons system in just a few days.

The declaration came only days after Putin oversaw the test of another nuclear-capable weapon, the Burevestnik cruise missile, which he described as having an “unlimited range.” US President Donald Trump had criticised that earlier test as “not appropriate.”

“Yesterday, another test was conducted for another prospective system, the unmanned underwater device ‘Poseidon,’ also equipped with a nuclear power unit,” Putin said in televised remarks during a visit to a military hospital treating Russian soldiers wounded in Ukraine.

Putin claimed the drone torpedo is impossible to intercept, boasting that it can travel faster than conventional submarines and reach any continent in the world. He said no other country possesses similar capabilities and that it was unlikely any would develop them soon.

According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, the Poseidon can operate at a depth of over one kilometre and travel at speeds of up to 70 knots while remaining undetectable. The weapon, first tested in 2018, is reportedly capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of up to two megatons.

Putin’s announcement defied Trump’s renewed calls for Moscow to focus on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, now approaching its fourth year. “He ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now soon in its fourth year,” Trump said earlier this week.

The US president recently cancelled a planned summit with Putin in Budapest, citing the Russian leader’s unwillingness to compromise on Ukraine. Washington has since imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, accusing the Kremlin of stonewalling peace efforts.

Putin first revealed the existence of both the Burevestnik missile and the Poseidon underwater drone in 2018 during a combative address condemning Western policies and asserting Russia’s growing strategic military strength.

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