The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Latest Fagbemi (SAN), given reasons why President Tinubu reviewed the list of 175 convicts that were initially penciled down for presidential pardon.
In a statement released, the Attorney-General said the review was to ensure that only persons that met stipulated legal and procedural requirements benefitted 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” the statement reads
Earlier today, the Presidency released the final list of persons that were granted clemency. According to the list released, 86 persons whose sentences were reduced by President Tinubu, included Maryam Sanda, the daughter in-law of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was facing the capital punishment for culpable homicide.
An Abuja high court had on January 27, 2020, sentenced Maryam to death by hanging after she was found guilty of stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death at their Abuja residence in 2017.
Though she has been at the Suleja prison for six years and eight months, with the presidential pardon, FG reduced her total sentence to 12 years, “based on compassionate ground, in the best interest of the children, good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model to prisoners and remorsefulness.”
Also in the list included one Chukwukelu Sunday Calistus, whose life imprisonment for drug related offences was reduced to 20 years after he had spent 11 years in prison.
Yusuf Owolabi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for manslaughter, also had his punishment reduced to 15 years after he had served for 10 years, while Ifeanyi Eze who was facing a similar punishment over the same offence, also got his sentence reduced to 15 years after his four years stay in prison.
Another convict that was facing life imprisonment for armed robbery and possession of illegal firearm, Mallam Ibrahim Sulaiman, was okayed to stay in prison for only 15 years having already served for two years.
Other beneficiaries included one Samson Ajayi who bagged 15-year jail term in 2022. His sentence was reduced to 10 years, while Alhaji Abubakar Tanko had his 30 years sentence for culpable homicide reduced to 20 years after he had served for seven years.
One Nnamdi Anene who was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal dealing of arms, was pardoned to serve only 20 years.
Other convicts on the list were sentenced for lesser offences that included unlawful mining, conspiracy to hijack fishing vessel, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, possession of cannabis, fraud, and criminal breach of trust.
The beneficiaries were said to have been remorseful, of good conduct in the prison, acquired vocational skills, or improved their education.
Similarly, in three other separate lists, FG disclosed that whereas 15 persons were granted clemency, 15 others that included Saro Wiwa and Herbert Macaulay, were listed as those that got pardoned, while four others had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
One person was killed and several were injured after an “incident” on a roller coaster at a theme park in the US state of Georgia on Monday, officials said.
Officials did not confirm how the person died or how the others were injured in the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said detectives from the county’s major crimes unit were investigating what happened.
Cupid said one person had died and others were injured, adding that next of kin had been notified.
“A terrible tragedy occurred today at Six Flags Over Georgia,” Cupid said in a statement.
“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” she said.
A Six Flags spokesperson told US media that the park and local authorities responded immediately and that they were fully cooperating with local officials.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said.
Theme park operator Six Flags, which has properties throughout North America, has temporarily closed nine similar rollercoasters across six parks “out of an abundance of caution”.
Officials did not specify which ride was involved in the incident in Georgia, but local media identified it as the Goliath roller coaster.
The roller coaster reaches top speeds of 70 miles per hour (113 kmh) and heights of 200 feet (61 meters), according to the park’s website.
The incident comes after Six Flags decided last month to permanently shut down a popular roller coaster in its California theme park after dozens of people claimed to have suffered brain damage while riding it.
The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect who allegedly stabbed a health worker at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call in a statement issued on Monday night by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Salako condemned the reported stabbing of Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi, a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, describing the attack as “barbaric and unacceptable”.
“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties.”
The minister said the ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.
He said the incident reinforced the urgency of implementing measures directed by the ministry on Aug. 5, to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions.
According to him, the measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” he said.
Salako also appealed to health workers, who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the wider public.
He urged the workers to allow security authorities to carry out their duties and pursue the investigation.
The minister further urged the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support while strengthening security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.
He extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserved compassion and appropriate attention.
Salako urged anyone dissatisfied with the care received at the hospital to use its formal complaints mechanism.
He said that such concerns could be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without recourse to violence.
The minister reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
According to him, health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can perform their duties without fear of violence and patients and their families can seek care with confidence.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday, swore in 68 legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the 2026/2027 Legal Year ceremony.
PUNCH Online reported that the swearing-in took place during the ceremony marking the new legal year.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee had approved the elevation of the 68 legal practitioners at its 174th plenary session held in Abuja in July.
According to PUNCH’s earlier report, the appointees comprise 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.
The names of the 67 advocates, listed according to their seniority at the Bar, are:
1. Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu
2. Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor
3. Godwill Achibong Umoh
4. Sunday Samuel Obende
5. Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe
6. Jimson Ejovi Okodaso
7. Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John
8. Olaotan Thomas Olusegun
9. Philemeon Audu Daffi
10. Adenrele David Adegborioye
11. James Eromosele Agbonhese
12. Alexander Nduka Muoka
13. Onome Okodiya
14. Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye
15. Ikhide Ehighelua
16. Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe
17. Ogunmuyiwa Olayinka Balogun
18. Anthony Auditz Iroagalachi
19. Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed
20. Odion Peter Odia
21. Gbemiga Adaramola
22. Moses Okoh Onyilokwu
23. Charles Azubuike Obodozie
24. Hakeem Obafemi Agaba
25. Bimbo Felix Atilola
26. Okechukwu Steve Emelieze
27. Joshua Demilade Olaniyan
28. Igonikon Abiola Adekunle
29. Christian Nnadozie Nwokorie
30. Sadiku Momoh Ilegieuno
31. Sarafa Kolawole Idowu
32. Olujoke Enitan Aliu
33. Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie
34. Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi
35. Faruk Abdullah
36. Sagir Gezawa Suleiman
37. Ifeanyi Godwin Ezeuko
38. Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe
39. Sabiu Gumba Adamu
40. Eric Keme-Egolukumor Omare
41. Soibi Ideriah Ovia
42. Somina Peter Johnbull
43. Chinedum Ikenna Umeche
44. Emmanuel Eghiegba Ekhasemomhe
45. Mohammed El-Hassan Sheriff
46. Junaidu Bello Marshall
47. Olawale Sunday Fapohunda
48. Adebiyi Alaba Adetoboye
49. Senior Sulyman Ibrahim
50. Agba Eimunjeze
51. Ayobamidele Oyekunle Akande
52. Adetunji Taiwo Adedoyin Adeniyi
53. Olamide Moigbotoluwa Adekunle
54. Umaru Yunusa
55. Akorede Habeeb Lawal
56. Darlington Nnabuike Ozurumba
57. Nnaemeka Francis Patrick Egonu
58. Kayode Orire Omosehin
59. Mitchel Akinrinsola Aribisala
60. Bolu Agbaje Akadri
61. Oluwaseun Asimiyu Alao
62. Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala
63. Mustapha Olayinka Ajenifuja
64. Afees Hassan Adebayo
65. Mohammed Abiodun Adelodun
66. Jonathan Akintola Makinde
67. Olajide Salami
The sole academic recipient is Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.
