Controversy Over Tinubu’s Pardon for 22 Murderers, 28 Drug Traffickers, 41 Illegal Miners Convicted in 2024

Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exercised his powers as granted by Section 175 (1) a-d,).

According to section 175 (1) a-d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended):

“The President may – (a) grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions; (b) grant to any person a respite, either for an indefinite or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence; (c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence; or (d) remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the State on account of such an offence.”

In exercising his presidential powers, President Tinubu granted presidential pardon/amnesty to 175

convicted criminals that cut across various “sectors” of the underworld.

 

However, public commentators have taken notice of the fact that such areas as murder and drug trafficking hard the lion share of the predementia prerogative of mercy.

According to Lagos- based Data Analytics company, StatiSense,  29.2% of the beneficiaries of the presidential pardon, while those involved in illegal mining constitute 24.0%, homicide 13.5%,fraud and corruption stands at 12.3%.

Others according to StatiSense include, hijacking (theft) 5.8%, firearms 2.3%, armed robbery 2.3%, kidnapping 1.8%, human trafficking 1.8% while other crimes constitute 5.8%.

 

The beneficiaries include mostly people convicted of crimes between 2023 and 2024.

The most prominent among the beneficiaries are illegal miners mostly from Zamfara State who were all convicted and sentenced to prison in 2024 for “unlawful mining.”

 

Many Nigerians have also taken to the social media to express worry over the number of convicted illicit drugs offenders, including convicted Cocaine, Heroine and crystal meth dealers.

 

 

Speaking on the action of President Tinubu, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar described Tinubu;s actiona as “Reckless Use of Presidential Pardon” which according to him undermines Nigeria’s justice system.

 

According to the former Vice President, “The recent announcement of a presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, as expected, provoked outrage across the nation.”

 

Atiku in statement issued on Sunday noted that, “At a time when Nigeria continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences, it is both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritize clemency for those whose actions have directly undermined national stability and social order.”

 

Bellow are some of the striking beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidential pardon:

 

 

 

CONVICTED MURDERER:

1. Lina Kusum Wilson, aged 34, sentenced to death in 2017  for culpable homicide, had spent eight years in jail.
2. . Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa, aged 72: sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2005. Had spent 20 years in Kaduna prison
3. Yusuf Owolabi, aged 36. Sentenced to life in 2015 for Manslaughter. Had spent 10 years at Kirikiri.Prison term reduced to 12 years for showing remorse and learning vocational skills.
4. Ifeanyi Eze, aged 33. Sentenced to life in 2021 for Manslaughter and had spent four years at Kirikiri. Prison term reduced to 12 years for showing remorse and learning vocational skills.
5. . Ajasper Benzeger, aged 69 and sentenced in 2015 to 20 years for Culpable homicide. Sentence reduced to 12 years, based on old age and ill-health.
6. Abubakar Tanko, aged 61, was sentenced in 2018 to 30 years at the Gusau Custodial Centre for Culpable Homicide. Sentence reduced to 20 years.
7. . Markus Yusuf, aged 41. Sentenced in 2023 to 13 years for culpable homicide. Sentence reduced to 5 years based on ill-health
8. John Ibiam, aged 39, was sentenced in 2016 to 15 years for manslaughter and served 9 years and one month in the Afikpo Custodial Centre. The sentence was reduced to 10 years after the individual showed remorse and acquired vocational skills.
9. . Omoka Aja, aged 40 and sentenced in 2016 to 15 years for manslaughter, served 9 years and 1 month in Afikpo Custodial Centre. The sentence was commuted to 10 years.
10. . Emmanuel Baba, aged 38: sentenced to death in 2017 for culpable homicide. On death row in Kuje Custodial Centre for the past 8 years. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment based on good conduct and remorsefulness.
11. Emmanuel Gladstone, aged 45, was sentenced in 2020 to death for murder and had spent five years at Katsina Custodial Centre. Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment due to good conduct and remorse.
12. Moses Ayodele Olurunfemi, aged 51: sentenced to death in 2012 for culpable homicide and had spent 13 years on death row in Katsina. President Tinubu commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, citing the individual’s good conduct and remorse.
13. . Mohammed Umar, 43: Sentenced to death in 2018 for culpable homicide and had spent seven years on death row in Onitsha Custodial Centre. He got the Presidential reprieve, commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment.
14. . Ken Saro Wiwa. Sentenced for murder
15. Saturday Dobee. Sentenced for murder
16. Nordu Eawa. Sentenced for murder
17. Daniel Gbooko. Sentenced for murder
18. Paul Levera. Sentenced for murder
19. Felix Nuate. Sentenced for murder
20. Baribor Bera. Sentenced for murder
21. Barinem Kiobel. Sentenced for murder
22. John Kpuine. Sentenced for murder

 

 

CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS:

1. . Nweke Francis Chibueze, aged 44, serving a life sentence at Kirikiri for cocaine.
2. Aluagwu Lawrence, aged 47, sentenced for Indian hemp (selling), 2015
3. Ben Friday, aged 60, was sentenced to 3 years or N1.3 million fine for marijuana in 2023.
4. Oroke Micheal Chibueze, aged 21, sentenced to 5 years (cannabis sativa) in 2023
5. Kelvin Christopher Smith, aged 42, was sentenced to 4 years for importing cocaine in 2023
6. Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka, aged 31, sentenced in 2021 to 5 years or N3 million fine for importing cocaine.
7. Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi, aged 47, sentenced in 2023 to 3 years for dealing in Tramadol.
8. . Ahmed Adeyemo, aged 38, sentenced to 15 years for cannabis. Already served nine years, 5 months at Kirikiri
9. Adeniyi Jimoh, aged 31years, sentenced to 15 years for Drugs in 2015 and served nine years at Kirikiri.
10. Seun Omirinde, aged 39, sentenced to 15 years for Drugs in 2015. Served nine years at Kirikiri
11. Fidelis Michael, aged 40, sentenced to 5 years for cannabis sativa
12. Suru Akande, aged 52, sentenced to 5 years for cannabis sativa
13. Safiyanu Umar, aged 56, sentenced to 5 years without the option of a fine for possessing 5kg of Cannabis sativa, 2023
14. Hamza Abubakar, aged 37, sentenced to 5 years for Indian hemp (selling), 2022
15. Mujibu Muhammad, aged 30, sentenced in 2022 to 5 years, no option for a fine for cannabis.
16. . Emmanuel Eze, aged 49, sentenced in 2022 to 5 years for Heroine.
17. . Bala Azika Yahaya, aged 70, sentenced in 2017 to 15 years for cannabis.
18. Buhari Sani, aged 33, sentenced in 2022 to 5 years for possession of 558 grams of cannabis.
19. Mohammed Musa, aged 27, was sentenced in 2022 to 5 years for possession of 16 grams of cannabis.
20. Muharazu Abubakar, aged 37, sentenced in 2022 to 5 years for selling Indian hemp. Already spent 3 years in Katsina Prison
21. Ibrahim Yusuf, aged 34; jailed 5 years in 2022 for possession of 5.7 grams of Indian hemp.
22. Richard Ayuba, aged 38. Sentenced to 5 years in 2022 for Indian hemp
23. Adam Abubakar, aged 30 and sentenced in 2022 to five years for possession of 2kg of tramadol.
24. Emmanuel Yusuf, aged 34; sentenced in 2022 to 4 years for possession of 2kg of tramadol
25. Edwin Nnazor, aged 60; sentenced in 2018 to 15 years for cannabis. Had spent 6 years, nine months at Zamfara prison
26. Joseph Nwanoka, aged 42: sentenced in 2022 to five years for drugs
27. Nsikat Edet Harry, Aged 37, sentenced in 2023 to 5 years for Illegal possession of Indian hemp, Cocaine, & Heroin.
28. Jonathan Asuquo, Aged 28, sentenced in 2022 to 5 years for possession of Indian hemp & other drugs

 

 

 

 

ILEGAL MINERS:

1. Babangida Saliu, Aged 35, sentenced in 2024  to 3 years for unlawful mining.
2. Adamu Sanni, aged 39, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining.
3. Abdulkarem Salisu, aged 30, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
4. Abdulaziz Lawal, aged 18, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
5. Abdulrahman Babangida, aged 20, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining
6. Maharazu Alidu, aged 22, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
7. Zaharadeen Baliue, aged 38, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
8. Babangida Usman, aged 30, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
9. Zayyanu Abdullahi, Aged 28, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining, 2024
10. Bashir Garuba, Aged 20, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining
11. Imam Suleman, aged 25, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining, 2024
12. Abbeh Amisu, Aged 28, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining, 2024
13. Lawani Lurwanu, Aged 20, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining, 2024
14. Yusuf Alhassan, aged 33, was sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining in 2024.
15. Abdulahi Isah, aged 25, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining, 2024
16. Zayanu Bello, aged 35, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining
17. Habeeb Suleman, aged 22, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining.
18. Jubrin Sahabi, aged 23, was sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining.
19. Shefiu Umar, aged 28, was sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining.
20. Seidu Abubakar, age 29, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining.
21. Haruna Abubakar, Aged 24, was sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
22. Rabiu Seidu, aged 26, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining.
23. Macha Kuru, Aged 25, sentenced in 2024 to 3 years for unlawful mining
24. Zahradeen Aminu, Aged 25 years, sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining.
25. Nazipi Musa, aged 25. Sentenced to 3 years for unlawful mining in 2024
26. Abdullahi Musa, aged 30 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining.
27. Habibu Safiu, aged 20 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
28. Husseni Sani, aged 21 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
29. Musa Lawali, aged 25 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
30. Suleiman Lawal, aged 23 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
31. Yusuf Iliyasu, aged 21 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
32. Sebiyu Aliyu, aged 20 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
33. Halliru Sani, aged 18 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
34. Shittu Aliyu, aged 30 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
35. Sanusi Aminu, aged 27 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
36. Isiaka Adamu, aged 40 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
37. Mamman Ibrahim, aged 50 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
38. Shuaibu Abdullahi, aged 35 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
39. Sanusi Adamu, aged 28 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
40. Sadi Musa, aged 20 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining
41. Haruna Isah, aged 35 and sentenced to 3 years in 2024 for unlawful mining