Half of Tinubu’s Pardon Nominees May Be Dropped as FG Begins Probe

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has ordered a comprehensive, multi-agency review of the proposed presidential pardon list, amid mounting controversy over the inclusion of several high-profile names.

Sources confirmed that the review is being jointly conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the police. The vetting process, ordered by the Office of the Attorney-General, is expected to eliminate ineligible nominees and ensure only qualified individuals benefit from the presidential clemency.

President Bola Tinubu is awaiting the submission of the final, vetted list for approval. The move follows concerns that some of those recommended for pardon still face active corruption or drug-related charges. Officials familiar with the process said more than half of the nominees could be dropped after the review.

President Tinubu had earlier granted clemency to 175 convicts under his constitutional powers, with the announcement made by Fagbemi at the Council of State meeting on October 9. Those listed included illegal miners, white-collar criminals, drug offenders, and several historical figures such as the late Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa, Prof. Magaji Garba, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the Ogoni Eight. The list also included convicts like Maryam Sanda, sentenced for the 2017 killing of her husband, and Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, a notorious kidnap kingpin.

The full list, released by the Presidency on October 11, was divided into categories, including full pardons, posthumous pardons, presidential clemency, reduced prison terms, and commuted death sentences. However, the inclusion of certain names triggered pushback from security and anti-graft agencies, who raised red flags over unresolved investigations involving some nominees.

Fagbemi later clarified on October 16 that the list was still under review and not yet finalised. He acknowledged that “some low-level officers” on the committee had allegedly “smuggled in” unqualified names without proper clearance. These names are now being reviewed by relevant agencies to ensure compliance with established criteria.

Senior government officials confirmed that the EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, and police have begun submitting their preliminary findings. One official noted that the scrutiny was part of President Tinubu’s directive to guarantee transparency and prevent a repeat of past controversies surrounding presidential pardons.

“The review is ongoing, and the government is determined to ensure that no individual with unresolved criminal cases benefits from the process,” an official said. “It’s a matter of integrity and national trust.”

Another Presidency source disclosed that the outcome of the screening could see many nominees removed from the list. “More than half may not survive the review,” the source stated.

Reacting to the development, the Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Attorney-General, Kamorudeen Ogundele, confirmed the ongoing process, adding that the ministry was collaborating with all relevant agencies to ensure legal and ethical compliance.

Once the vetting is complete, the final list will be submitted to President Tinubu for endorsement.