The Nigerian Federal Government has clarified that none of the inmates approved for clemency under the recent Presidential Prerogative of Mercy have yet been released from custody.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, confirmed that the process is still undergoing a “final administrative stage” to ensure all names comply with legal and procedural requirements.
The announcement comes after the Council of State approved the recommendations, granting pardons or clemency to 175 individuals, including historical and high-profile figures.
Notable beneficiaries named in the approved list include:
- Sir Herbert Macaulay, a celebrated anti-colonial nationalist.
- Ken Saro-Wiwa, the environmental activist executed in 1995.
- Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed in 1986 for alleged coup plotting.
- Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for murder, whose sentence was reportedly commuted.
The Minister of Justice assured the public that the current delay is not a setback but a standard protocol, demonstrating the government’s commitment to due diligence and the rule of law.
“The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness,” Mr. Fagbemi said, adding that the formal instrument of release will only be issued once all legal and procedural checks are fully concluded.
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