President Bola Tinubu has signed the instrument of clemency and pardon, a relevant instrument of release to complete the process of granting pardon to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in line with Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It revealed that following the review, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, were “deleted from the list.
Onanuga said the action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, and the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general.
Recall that public scrutiny had trailed the presidential pardon, with allegations of bias and unjustifiable pardon to some persons.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has explained why President Bola Tinubu reviewed the list of 175 convicts that were initially penciled down for presidential pardon.
He said the review was to ensure that only persons that met stipulated legal and procedural requirements, benefitted from the prerogative of mercy.
