Abuja Network News
Abuja—In what appears to be one of the most dramatic political reversals of the Tinubu administration, the list of beneficiaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon has mysteriously shrunk from a widely publicized 175 names to just 34.
Documents obtained by Abuja Network News reveal that the original list—once paraded as a grand gesture of compassion—has been quietly sanitized after Nigerians erupted in outrage over the inclusion of drug traffickers, murderers, kidnappers, and illegal miners among those set free.
The story reads like a political thriller, a tale of mercy turned mystery, and a pardon list that vanished into the shadows of Aso Rock.
The Clemency That Shook the Nation
It began earlier this month when presidential aide Bayo Onanuga triumphantly announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, exercising powers under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, had approved the release and pardon of 175 convicts and former convicts.
The move, Onanuga said, was meant to decongest correctional centers, rehabilitate repentant offenders, and honor national figures unjustly treated in the past, such as Sir Herbert Macaulay and Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa.
The list, published by several national dailies including Pulse Nigeria, Vanguard, and The Nation, appeared noble on the surface—until Nigerians began reading between the lines.
Among the 175 names were convicted drug dealers, murderers, and economic saboteurs, including a few high-profile inmates whose cases had become synonymous with scandal. The revelation sent shockwaves across the country, igniting debates on justice, morality, and the credibility of the presidential mercy process.
Civil society groups accused the presidency of turning the Prerogative of Mercy into a “political favor market.” Social media exploded with disbelief, and hashtags like #PardonGate and #TinubuClemencyScandal trended nationwide.
Public Outrage And A Government On The Defensive
By October 15, the Tinubu administration found itself battling public outrage. Newspapers were ablaze with headlines questioning the rationale behind freeing individuals convicted of violent and drug-related crimes.
Prominent activists, legal experts, and political commentators denounced the move as “an assault on justice.”
One rights lawyer, Barr. Akin Oyewole, fumed:
> “You cannot fight corruption with one hand and reward criminals with the other. This is a direct mockery of the rule of law.”
As the criticism intensified, sources within the State House whispered that the Prerogative of Mercy Committee—responsible for vetting names—had allegedly submitted an inflated list, possibly padded by interested politicians and insiders.
Under the heat of public backlash, the Presidency reportedly halted the process, pending a “comprehensive review.”
The Quiet Cleanup Behind Closed Doors
Then came the silence. For almost a week, no official word was heard. But inside Aso Rock, something was brewing.
According to insiders privy to the process, President Tinubu ordered a “discretionary audit” of the list—an exercise that saw security agencies re-examining the criminal profiles of several proposed beneficiaries. The audit reportedly uncovered disturbing details:
some of those recommended for clemency were hardened criminals, repeat offenders, and individuals still undergoing appeal processes.
By October 21, a new set of documents emerged—this time, three formal instruments of presidential mercy signed personally by President Tinubu and countersigned by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The difference was night and day.
Gone was the long parade of 175 names. In their place, the final and official clemency instruments bore only 34 names:
15 pardoned, 15 granted clemency, and 4 death-row inmates whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
The Names That Survived
Among the 34 names that survived the purge are a mix of symbolic figures and low-risk offenders.
The list included posthumous pardons for national icons:
Sir Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s founding nationalist;
Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 for alleged coup plotting;
and the Ogoni Nine, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, Saturday Dobee, and others whose controversial execution by the Abacha regime remains a dark chapter in Nigerian history.
Others who made the cut were relatively low-profile: individuals who showed good behavior, learned skills, or completed rehabilitation programs.
Notably, former House of Representatives member Hon. Farouk Lawan—convicted in 2021 for bribery—was retained, as were Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar, Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, and Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, all convicted for non-violent financial crimes.
The Names That Disappeared
But the bigger story lies in the names that vanished.
From the Pulse Nigeria version of the list, at least 141 names were missing from the final presidential instruments.
Among the notable omissions were:
Maryam Sanda, convicted for the murder of her husband;
Professor Magaji Garba, former university vice chancellor jailed for fraud;
Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe, a convicted scammer;
Major S.A. Akubo and Jude Saka Ebaragha, both serving corruption-related sentences;
and several illegal mining convicts from Zamfara, Niger, and Kogi states whose crimes have cost Nigeria billions in lost revenue.
Their disappearance from the final documents lends credence to claims that the presidency secretly trimmed the list to save face and restore public confidence.
From Mercy to Mystery
The question Nigerians are now asking is: What really happened between the first and the final list?
Government insiders told Abuja Network News that the initial 175 names were compiled hastily by the Prerogative of Mercy Committee and “handed over for presidential approval without adequate vetting.”
President Tinubu, known for his political pragmatism, was said to have signed off in principle—only to be confronted later with the public backlash.
Faced with mounting criticism, the President reportedly ordered an immediate review and sanitization, insisting that “only those deserving of mercy” should benefit.
That decision led to the purge of more than 140 names—a move seen by analysts as both damage control and political self-preservation.
Official Silence, Public Speculation
The Presidency has maintained silence on the matter, refusing to admit whether the list was altered.
When contacted, Mr. Bayo Onanuga only reaffirmed that “the President acted within constitutional authority and in good conscience.”
However, human rights advocates argue that the lack of transparency in the revision process undermines public trust.
> “If over a hundred names disappeared, Nigerians deserve to know why. What were the criteria for inclusion or removal?” said Auwal Rafsanjani, head of Transparency International Nigeria.
Others see the move as a sign that the government bowed to public opinion—a rare example of citizens influencing presidential discretion.
A Tale Of Two Lists
When both lists are placed side by side, the difference is staggering:
Category Initial List (Pulse Nigeria) Final Signed List Difference
Pardon 15 15 0
Clemency 82 15 -67
Sentence Commutation 65 0 -65
Death-Row To Life 7 4 -3
Total 175 34 -141
The math doesn’t lie — 141 names have disappeared into thin air.
Political Implications
Political observers believe the presidential retreat signals Tinubu’s sensitivity to public opinion, especially at a time when Nigerians are grappling with harsh economic realities, fuel subsidy removal, and widespread insecurity.
Analysts say a poorly managed pardon list could have easily become another rallying cry for anti-government protests.
“Tinubu’s team realized that Nigerians won’t tolerate any action that rewards crime under the guise of mercy,” said Aisha Zakari, a political analyst at Abuja Network News.
Conclusion: Mercy Meets Caution
Whether the revised list was a show of mercy or a masterclass in political damage control remains a matter of debate.
What is clear is that President Tinubu’s Prerogative of Mercy, once hailed as a humanitarian gesture, has become a national conversation about justice, transparency, and accountability.
From 175 to 34, the story of Nigeria’s most controversial clemency exercise is a reminder that in politics—like in mercy—every name has a consequence.
The unanswered question lingers: Who killed the 141 names?
For now, only Aso Rock knows.
🗞️ SIDEBAR: The Missing Names — Who Disappeared From The First List?
Notable Individuals Omitted From The Final Clemency Instruments
Name Description Offence Status
Maryam Sanda Daughter-in-law of ex-PDP chairman, convicted for murdering her husband in 2017 Murder Removed
Prof. Magaji Garba Former VC of Federal University, Gusau Fraud, Abuse of Office Removed
Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe Notorious advance-fee fraudster (419 kingpin) Cybercrime/Fraud Removed
Major S.A. Akubo (Rtd) Former Army officer convicted of embezzlement Corruption Removed
Jude Saka Ebaragha Ex-civil servant convicted of procurement fraud Corruption Removed
Benjamin Ekeze Convicted drug courier Narcotics trafficking Removed
Zayanu Bello Illegal mining financier from Zamfara Economic sabotage Removed
Babangida Saliu & Adamu Sanni Illegal gold miners from Niger State Illegal Mining Removed
Moses Ayodele Olorunfemi Convicted for double homicide Murder Removed
Emmanuel Gladstone Death-row inmate convicted of armed robbery Armed Robbery Removed
Editorial Note:
Most of the names above appeared in the initial Pulse Nigeria list of 175 beneficiaries but are absent in the official presidential instruments signed on October 21, 2025.
Analysts believe their removal was deliberate—a move to purge the list of controversial names and calm public anger that threatened to overshadow the administration’s intent.
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