The Federal Government says no convict has been freed under President Tinubu’s proposed clemency exercise, insisting the process is still under review.
The Federal Government has clarified that no inmate recommended for clemency by President Bola Tinubu has been released, following widespread criticism over reports that convicts on death row and life imprisonment would be freed. Opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had condemned the move, warning that granting mercy to offenders convicted of murder, drug trafficking and illegal mining “emboldens criminality.”
Similarly, Bolaji Abdullahi of the African Democratic Congress described the planned release as “a national disgrace,” while human rights groups expressed concern over the precedent it could set.
In a statement on Thursday, Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi said the process remained at its “final administrative stage” and must undergo legal and procedural verification. “No inmate approved for clemency… has been released from custody,” he stressed, adding that the government was committed to transparency and due diligence.
That matter should be scrutinized properly during the review please.