President Bola Tinubu has approved a revised list of 86 convicts granted clemency under the 2025 Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, following a review of the earlier pardon list that attracted widespread public criticism.
The updated list, dated October 21, 2025, and personally signed by the president, covers inmates serving terms across various correctional facilities nationwide. The approval was made pursuant to Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to pardon or commute sentences of convicted persons.
A document titled “Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence, 2025”, cited by Inside Business Ng, shows that several inmates convicted of offences ranging from manslaughter, culpable homicide, drug trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms, fraud, and illegal mining were granted reduced sentences.
Clemency for Homicide and Manslaughter Convicts
Among those benefiting from the clemency is Maryam Sanda, convicted in 2020 for culpable homicide and sentenced to death by hanging. Her sentence was commuted to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate grounds, in consideration of her children and her reported good conduct in custody.
Others include Yusuf Owolabi, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for manslaughter, now to serve 15 years; Ifeanyi Eze, also serving a life sentence for manslaughter, now reduced to 15 years; and Markus Yusuf, whose 13-year sentence for culpable homicide was cut to eight years due to ill health.
Drug and Narcotics Offenders
Several convicts serving terms for drug-related offenses also received reduced sentences. Patrick Mensah’s 17-year term for drug trafficking was reduced to 13 years, while a group of inmates including Obi Edwin Chukwu, Tunde Balogun, and Lima Pereira Erick Diego, saw their 15-year sentences reduced to 12 years each.
Dias Santos Marela Christiana, convicted in 2017 for importing cocaine, had her sentence reduced from 15 to 12 years based on remorse and deportation. Others convicted for cannabis-related offences, such as Isaac Justina and Aishat Kehinde, had their terms cut to between three and seven years.
Financial and Fraud-Related Offences
Beneficiaries also include inmates convicted for financial crimes. Mustapha Ahmed, sentenced to seven years for criminal breach of trust, will now serve five years. Similarly, Buka Adamu’s 20-year sentence for advance fee fraud was reduced to nine years, while 72-year-old Ada Audu’s seven-year term for fraud was cut to four years.
Elderly inmates, including Chief Jonathan Alatoru (66), Umannah Ekatte (70), and Utom Thompson Udoaka (60), also received reduced sentences on grounds of age, remorsefulness, and good conduct.
Firearms and Related Offences
Convicts in possession of firearms also benefited. Abubakar Mamman’s 10-year term for illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle was cut to seven years, while 67-year-old Nnamdi Anene’s life sentence for illegal dealing in firearms was commuted to 20 years.
Maritime and Conspiracy Offences
A group of 10 inmates convicted in 2020 for conspiracy to hijack fishing vessels also benefited from the clemency. Their 12-year jail terms were reduced to eight years, and accompanying N1 million fines were waived in consideration of remorsefulness and financial incapacity.
Unlawful Mining Convictions
The revised list also included 45 inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Agodi, Oyo State, who were convicted in January 2024 for unlawful mining. Their three-year sentences were reduced to two years following a rehabilitation and empowerment commitment reportedly facilitated by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis.
Legal Framework and Presidential Authority
The clemency exercise, formalized under S.I. No. 79 of 2025: Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence), was issued in line with constitutional provisions granting the president the authority to pardon or commute sentences.
The Presidency said the review reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to justice reform, humane corrections, and the reintegration of reformed offenders into society.
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