Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged Nigerians, especially those from the Southeast, to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term, saying 2027 is not the region’s turn to produce the president.
Speaking in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Umahi said the Southeast must show patience and support continuity for fairness and stability.
“No, it is not our time yet. Before 2023, the 17 Southern governors agreed in Asaba that power should shift to the South.
“We all tried, but the crown came upon President Tinubu. He must complete his eight years, which belong to both the South and the North. After 2031, the Southeast can contest, having never produced the president,” Umahi said.
He dismissed renewed claims of marginalisation against the Tinubu administration as political, insisting that the region had been treated fairly in infrastructure and key appointments.
“President Tinubu does not want to know where you come from; he is treating everybody well. The Ministry of Works alone is handling projects worth over N350 billion across the Southeast, including the Enugu–Onitsha, Port Harcourt–Aba, and Aba–Umuahia roads,” he said.
Umahi listed several other projects under execution, noting that the President was also prioritising major works in the North. “When the Budget Office reviewed national infrastructure, the Northwest had three to four times more projects than the Southeast and Northeast,” he added.
He maintained that current realities prove the marginalisation narrative outdated.
“The Southeast has passed that stage. If we didn’t get all the appointments, we are getting the infrastructure, and that is what matters,” he said.
Aniebonam spoke yesterday in Lagos against the background of controversies surrounding Amupitan’s appointment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the National Council of States on October 7 approved the appointment of Amupitan to take over from Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu as INEC chairman.
The appointment is awaiting the Senate’s confirmation.
The NNPP founder noted that Amupitan already has his work cut out for him and should hit the ground running as soon as his appointment is confirmed.
“The first task for Amupitan is to change the battered image of INEC and restore the trust of Nigerians in the umpire.
“INEC’s image has been so eroded over the years that the first task before Amupitan is righting the wrongs of the commission and re-creating confidence in it.
“Amupitan needs to study the commission thoroughly and correct issues currently before it that Mahmoud ignored,” he said.
According to him, President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members must have seen Amupitan’s capacity before nominating him.
Aniebonam said the President is truly committed to righting the wrongs in Nigeria, and may be starting from INEC.
“What we need in Nigeria at the moment should be leaders who can take informed and hard decisions, if we must reinvent the Nigeria of our dreams
“Our experience with INEC over the internal leadership crisis in NNPP has given us an insight into the ills of the commission and how the body worked sometimes.
“For the immediate past leadership of INEC to ignore subsisting court orders and directives to upload the NNPP’s new national executives was a shocker and very shameful to constitutional democracy
“What could have stopped the former INEC boss from obeying the court orders should be looked into. These and many more are part of issues that can erode a people’s confidence in an institution.
“Amupitan has the choice to either follow the path of past INEC chairmen or write his name in Diamond,” he said.
Aniebonam said unattended matters, especially disobedience to court judgments, should be cleared forthwith by the new INEC boss, once confirmed.
“It is still like a daydream to us that some bad eggs in INEC connived and changed the logo and colour of NNPP symbols without the consent of its founding members and holder of the original certificate of registration.
“INEC did the conversion without asking or sighting the original certificate of registration of the NNPP.
“This simply means that anyone can approach INEC and change the logo and colour symbols of APC, PDP, Labour Party (LP), and others just like that,” Aniebonam said.
He stressed that the NNPP remained committed to joining President Tinubu to give the new INEC leadership maximum support and prayed that Amupitan would not be distracted from carrying out his duties.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also extended warm greetings to the President’s son on the celebration of his landmark birthday.
The President noted that his son has made the family proud and will continue to make Nigeria proud.
In a heartfelt personal message yesterday, the President celebrated Seyi’s life, describing him as a man who has “walked his path with focus, courage, and humility,” while devoting himself to building, serving, and uplifting others.
“Happy 40th birthday, my son. You have made us proud, and I know you will continue to make Nigeria proud,” the President wrote.
President Tinubu recounted Seyi’s journey from childhood to adulthood, commending his determination, creativity, and leadership, saying: “From an early age, you have shown determination and a desire to create and lead. I have watched you turn ideas into institutions and challenges into opportunities”.
He lauded his son’s accomplishments in both business and public service, noting that Seyi’s example reflects values that go beyond material success.
“In business and in service, you have shown that true success is not measured by wealth or power but by the impact we make and the lives we touch,” the President stated.
Marking 40 as a defining milestone, President Tinubu described it as an age that “bridges youthful drive and the more profound wisdom that life brings”.
He added that Seyi had carried the Tinubu name with honour, remaining faithful to the values of “discipline, integrity, and hard work”.
The President also praised Seyi’s devotion to his family, commending the strong bond he shares with his wife, Layal, and their children.
“Our entire family is proud of you. We are proud of the family you are building with Layal, your devotion as a husband and father, and your commitment to making a difference in your generation,” he wrote.
The President concluded the tribute with prayers for Seyi’s continued wisdom, good health, and peace, urging him to stay focused on inspiring others.
“May God bless you with wisdom, good health, and peace. As you celebrate this milestone, remember that your strength lies in what you achieve and how you inspire others to believe in themselves,” the President wrote.
In his congratulatory message to Seyi Tinubu through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Seyi as an industrious, dedicated and passionate young man who has become a role model to millions of youths in different parts of the country.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Lagos State, I extend my warmest congratulations to Seyi Tinubu, the son of our leader, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of his 40th birthday.
“Seyi Tinubu’s 40th birthday marks not only a milestone in his personal journey but also a moment of deep reflection for what he stands for, the lives he has touched and the positive impacts he has made within and outside government.
“He is a focused, courageous, disciplined and humble young man who has done a lot to build, serve, impact and uplift others, especially the younger generation, whom he has touched positively as a role model worthy of celebrating.
“He is a voice to reckon with in Nigeria because of how he has impacted many youths and lifted up many people through several interventions and empowerment in different parts of the country.
“As Seyi Tinubu steps into this new decade, may his path be marked by greater accomplishments, deeper impact, and continued grace. I pray that God will bless him with long life, sound health, and renewed wisdom as he turns 40.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid an emotional tribute to his son, Seyi Tinubu, on the occasion of his 40th birthday, declaring that his son has made the family proud and will continue to make Nigeria proud.
In a heartfelt personal message he released on Sunday, the President celebrated Seyi’s life, describing him as a man who has “walked his path with focus, courage, and humility,” while devoting himself to building, serving, and uplifting others.
“Happy 40th Birthday, my son. You have made us proud, and I know you will continue to make Nigeria proud”, the President wrote.
President Tinubu recounted Seyi’s journey from childhood to adulthood, commending his determination, creativity, and leadership, saying, “From an early age, you have shown determination and a desire to create and lead. I have watched you turn ideas into institutions and challenges into opportunities.”
He lauded his son’s accomplishments in both business and public service, noting that Seyi’s example reflects values that go beyond material success.
“In business and in service, you have shown that true success is not measured by wealth or power but by the impact we make and the lives we touch,” the President stated.
Marking 40 as a defining milestone, Tinubu described it as an age that “bridges youthful drive and the more profound wisdom that life brings.”
He added that Seyi had carried the Tinubu name with honour, remaining faithful to the values of “discipline, integrity, and hard work.”
The President also praised Seyi’s devotion to his family, commending the strong bond he shares with his wife, Layal, and their children.
“Our entire family is proud of you. We are proud of the family you are building with Layal, your devotion as a husband and father, and your commitment to making a difference in your generation,” he wrote.
He concluded the tribute with prayers for Seyi’s continued wisdom, good health, and peace, urging him to stay focused on inspiring others.
“May God bless you with wisdom, good health, and peace. As you celebrate this milestone, remember that your strength lies in what you achieve and how you inspire others to believe in themselves,” the president wrote.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, ahead of the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government meeting, which will focus on tackling the growing security crisis in West Africa.
The Presidential aircraft touched down at the Rome Fiumicino International Airport at about 7:20 p.m local time on Sunday, where the president was received by senior Italian officials, members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps, and top aides.
The high-level meeting, which opens on Tuesday, will bring together Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.
Participants are expected to deliberate on the evolving security landscape in West Africa and develop coordinated responses to terrorism and transnational crime.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Aqaba Process is a global counter-terrorism initiative aimed at enhancing cooperation and intelligence sharing among nations confronting violent extremism.
The current edition, co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government, will focus on the complex security threats facing the region, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing nexus between crime and terrorism, and the overlap between land-based insurgency in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to an earlier statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will not only participate in the plenary sessions but will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to explore collaborative measures to curb insecurity across the subregion.
The sessions are expected to examine strategies to counter terrorism, combat online radicalisation, and disrupt digital networks used to promote extremist propaganda and recruitment.
The Tinubu Media Force (TMF), Nigeria’s largest progressive grassroots media network, has commended Tunji Bello, Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), for his outstanding leadership and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During a courtesy visit to the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja, Gbenga Abiola, national coordinator of the group, praised Bello for his commitment to fairness, transparency, and consumer protection across Nigeria’s business landscape.
He described Bello’s leadership as a reflection of President Tinubu’s vision for a just and inclusive economy that prioritizes the welfare of citizens.
Under Bello’s leadership, the FCCPC has strengthened regulatory oversight, promoted accountability, and ensured fair competition in the marketplace.
The Commission was named government agency of the year 2023 after generating ₦56 billion in Internally Generated Revenue, with ₦22.4 billion remitted to the federal government from enforcement penalties and compliance actions.
The FCCPC has also implemented several consumer-focused initiatives, including the Patient Bill of Rights, clampdowns on illegal digital money lenders, and interventions in the power sector to safeguard consumers.
The Commission continues to collaborate with agencies such as the NCC, NERC, NAFDAC, SON, and EFCC to promote fairness and consumer welfare nationwide.
A key issue discussed during the visit was the FCCPC’s ongoing engagement with MultiChoice Nigeria over its March 2025 subscription price hike.
Bello reaffirmed that such actions must comply with fairness and transparency laws.
Abiola commended his courage in defending consumer rights, describing it as a true expression of the Renewed Hope spirit.
He assured Bello of the Tinubu Media Force’s continued collaboration in public enlightenment and grassroots communication on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasised that the group remains committed to projecting the achievements of the Tinubu administration and promoting transparency across all sectors.
He encouraged Mr. Bello and his team to sustain their efforts in protecting consumers, adding that through the FCCPC’s work, Nigerians can see the values of Renewed Hope, fairness, accountability, and citizen empowerment being translated into meaningful action.
DR. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK), the 2027 Oyo State APC gubernatorial aspirant, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a transformative national vision that is restoring confidence, fostering innovation, and empowering Nigerian youths at home and abroad.
Speaking in London after attending the grand finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge, Dr. Kareem praised the administration’s commitment to youth development and technological advancement, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda “is rekindling the Nigerian spirit of creativity, enterprise, and excellence.”
He emphasized that the success of Al’amin Muhammed Idris, the Kaduna-born CEO of Interface Africa who emerged overall winner of the £1.5 million challenge, reflects the positive impact of policies that prioritize innovation and entrepreneurship. Idris’ firm, Interface Africa, was celebrated for pioneering affordable solar financing solutions for small businesses across Africa, improving energy access and driving economic inclusion.
Kareem lauded the President for backing initiatives that open doors for young innovators to compete globally, noting that programs such as the NextGen Innovation Challenge, organized by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) under the leadership of Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, have created opportunities for over a hundred projects across HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, Clean Energy, and Artificial Intelligence.
“President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan; it is a strategic framework that is igniting the creative power of Nigerian youths,” Dr. Kareem stated. “The government’s support for innovation is producing tangible results, from new businesses to clean energy access, and positioning Nigeria as a hub for digital transformation in Africa.”
During the event, Kareem also met with the APC UK Chairman, Barrister Fayemi, and other stakeholders, including the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, where he discussed strategies for innovation-driven governance and diaspora engagement in national development.
The Oyo APC hopeful reiterated his belief that technology and innovation will be central to his vision for Oyo State, promising to align his development agenda with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope philosophy by investing in education, digital skills, and clean energy.
“Oyo’s future will be built on innovation, not imitation,” Kareem affirmed.
“We must translate the Renewed Hope Agenda into local action that empowers our youths, strengthens our economy, and delivers inclusive growth.”
The event concluded with renewed calls for collaboration among government institutions, private sector leaders, and diaspora professionals to accelerate Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and sustain the momentum of the Renewed Hope vision.
Speaking at an award dinner at the Nigeria House in New York to celebrate Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), said she was puzzled by President Bola Tinubu’s disciplined reticence on the socio-economic conditions his administration inherited. She knows how fashionable it is for a new president to expiate his difficulties by blaming his predecessor’s abominable policies and track record. She added: “But he (Tinubu) also told us that he wasn’t going to complain about what he (inherited). I have not heard him complain. People around him complain about what he inherited, but he doesn’t.” The global diplomat seemed fascinated. So, too, do many Nigerians, including those who like or hate the president.
Though he is no religious puritan, President Tinubu, by his attitude, teaches faith leaders the exemplary art of not complaining or murmuring. In 2015, weeks after basking in his contributions to the Muhammadu Buhari electoral success, he was sidelined and treated shabbily by his party and leaders. Shocked, he nevertheless kept silent. Shortly before the 2019 reelection campaign, when the ruling party realised it had been unable to groom former governor Tinubu’s replacement in the Southwest, they went back to him for help. Again he offered that crucial help but studiously refused to mock his traducers or complain. In fact he was even mysteriously silent. And when his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), enacted a welter of policies to ostracise and emasculate him, and even erected huge boulders across his path to derail his 2023 presidential ambition, he refused to abuse the then president or any party leader.
And after he won, he has been nothing but gracious to his undeserving predecessor, a fact now attested to by Mrs Mohammed. Rudyard Kipling put it succinctly: “If you can keep your head when all about you// Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;// If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,// But make allowance for their doubting too;// If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,// Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,// Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,//…If you can fill the unforgiving minute// With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—// Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,// And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!//” President Tinubu embodies this timeless lesson.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-Level Meeting, which will focus on addressing the worsening security crisis in West Africa.
The high-level meeting, scheduled to begin on October 14, will convene Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from across Africa, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, discussions will centre on the evolving security landscape in the region and strategies to counter terrorism and organised crime.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative jointly co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.
It provides a platform for global leaders to exchange intelligence insights and coordinate regional responses to emerging security threats.
The statement said , the 2025 edition will “recognise the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus, and the overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The meeting will also explore strategies to combat online radicalisation, disrupt digital propaganda networks, and strengthen intelligence-sharing among member nations.
Discussions will emphasise coordinated action to counter threats on both land and sea.
President Tinubu, who is expected to address the plenary sessions, will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to discuss collective approaches to strengthening subregional security and stability.
The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, among other senior officials.
Govt releases comprehensive list of 175 beneficiaries
The Presidency yesterday made public a comprehensive list of the beneficiaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon, clemency and commutation of sentences involving 175 convicts and former convicts, which was released after the National Council of State meeting on Thursday.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave an exhaustive breakdown of the categories of the President’s prerogatives, comprising full pardons, posthumous pardons, clemency, sentence reductions and commutations from death to life imprisonment.
The exercise of mercy for the 175 convicts and former convicts, including military officers, public officials, remorseful drug offenders, illegal miners and foreigners, followed the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi.
The committee’s report, as presented by Fagbemi, recommended various forms of reprieve: pardon for 17 persons (including 11 posthumously), clemency for 82 inmates, commutation of sentences for 65, and conversion of death sentences to life imprisonment for seven others.
According to the statement by Mr Onanuga, President Tinubu granted mercy to many of the convicts for reasons including remorse, good conduct, old age, and enrolment in reform programmes such as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Those granted full presidential pardon are Nweke Francis Chibueze, Dr. Nwogu Peters, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, Barrister Hussaini Alhaji Umar, Ayinla Saadu Alanamu and Hon. Farouk M. Lawan.
President Tinubu also issued posthumous pardons to nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay, whose 1913 colonial conviction has now been set aside; Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 over an alleged coup plot; and the Ogoni Nine—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawa, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine—who were executed in 1995.
The Presidency separately honoured the victims in the Ogoni case—Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobaru, Chief Samuel Orage and Chief Theophilus Orage—while making clear they are not beneficiaries of the clemency or pardon.
Eighty-two inmates received presidential clemency after demonstrating remorse, reform or other qualifying circumstances, among whom was Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in November 2017.
Sanda’s sentence was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 4, 2020.
Others who received presidential clemency included Aluagwu Lawrence; Ben Friday; Oroke Michael Chibueze; Kelvin Christopher Smith; Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka; Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi; Ahmed Adeyemo; Adeniyi Jimoh; Seun Omirinde; Adesanya Olufemi Paul; Ife Yusuf; Daniel Bodunwa; Fidelis Michael; Suru Akande; Safiyanu Umar; Dahiru Abdullahi; Hamza Abubakar; Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki; Mujibu Muhammad; Emmanuel Eze; Bala Azika Yahaya; Lina Kusum Wilson and Buhari Sani.
Others are Mohammed Musa; Muharazu Abubakar; Ibrahim Yusuf; Saad Ahmed Madaki; Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa; Richard Ayuba; Adam Abubakar; Emmanuel Yusuf; Edwin Nnazor; Chinedu Stanley; Joseph Nwanoka; Johnny Ntheru; John Omotiye; Nsikat Edet Harry; Jonathan Asuquo; Prince Samuel Peters; Babangida Saliu; Adamu Sanni; Abdulkarem Salisu; Abdulaziz Lawal; Abdulrahman Babangida; Maharazu Alidu; Zaharadeen Baliue; Babangida Usman; Zayyanu Abdullahi; Bashir Garuba; Imam Suleman; Abbeh Amisu; Lawani Lurwanu; Yusuf Alhassan; Abdulahi Isah; and Zayanu Bello.
There were also Habeeb Suleman; Jubrin Sahabi; Shefiu Umar; Seidu Abubakar; Haruna Abubakar; Rabiu Seidu; Macha Kuru; Zahradeen Aminu; Nazipi Musa; Abdullahi Musa; Habibu Safiu; Husseni Sani; Musa Lawali; Suleiman Lawal; Yusuf Iliyasu; Sebiyu Aliyu; Halliru Sani; Shittu Aliyu; Sanusi Aminu; Isiaka Adamu; Mamman Ibrahim; Shuaibu Abdullahi; Sanusi Adamu; Sadi Musa; Haruna Isah; and Abiodun Elemero who received presidential clemency.
The Presidency disclosed that Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis signed an undertaking to be responsible for the rehabilitation and empowerment of all the convicted illegal miners who were granted clemency.
In addition, 65 inmates had their terms of imprisonment reduced for reasons such as remorse, good conduct, educational attainment, age or ill-health.
Those whose sentences were reduced are Yusuf Owolabi; Ifeanyi Eze; Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman; Shettima Maaji Arfo; Ajasper Benzeger; Ifenna Kennechukwu; Mgbeike Matthew; Patrick Mensah; Obi Edwin Chukwu; Tunde Balogun; Lima Pereira Erick Diego; Uchegbu Emeka Michael; Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen; Napolo Osariemen; Patricia Echoe Igninovia; Odeyemi Omolaram; Vera Daniel Ifork; and Gabriel Juliet Chidimma.
Others are Dias Santos Marcia Christiana; Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed; Alhaji Nasiru Ogara Adinoyi; Chief Emeka Agbodike; Isaac Justina; Aishat Kehinde; Helen Solomon; Okoye Tochukwu; Ugwueze Paul; Mutsapha Ahmed; Abubakar Mamman; Muhammed Bello Musa; Nnamdi Anene; Alhaji Abubakar Tanko; Chisom Francis Wisdom; Innocent Brown Idiong; Iniobong Imaeyen Ntukidem; Ada Audu; Bukar Adamu; Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe; Frank Azuekor; and Chukwukelu Sunday Calisthus.
Also affected are Professor Magaji Garba; Markus Yusuf; Samson Ajayi; Iyabo Binyoyo; Oladele Felix; Rakiya Beida; Nriagu Augustine Ifeanyi; Chukwudi Destiny; Felix Rotimi Esemokhai; Major S. A. Akubo; John Ibiam; Omoka Aja; Chief Jonathan Alatoru; Umanah Ekaette Umanah; Utom Obong Thomson Udoaka; Jude Saka Ebaragha; Frank Insort Abaka; Shina Alolo; Joshua Iwiki; David Akinseye; Ahmed Toyin; Shobajo Saheed; Adamole Philip; Mathew Masi; and Bright Agbedeyi.
Seven inmates on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment on account of good conduct and remorse. They are Emmanuel Baba; Emmanuel Gladstone; Moses Ayodele Olorunfemi; Abubakar Usman; Khalifa Umar; Benjamin Ekeze; and Mohammed Umar.
The Presidency explained that the exercise covers a wide range of offences and circumstances—from narcotics and economic crimes to unlawful mining and homicide—and is intended to balance justice with compassion while acknowledging genuine efforts at reform.
It added that, beyond correcting individual cases, the exercise also addresses historic grievances such as the colonial conviction of Sir Herbert Macaulay and the 1995 executions in Ogoniland, even as the victims in that episode were formally honoured without being listed among the pardon or clemency beneficiaries.
How Maryam Sanda was convicted, sentenced to death for killing husband
After a judicial expedition that lasted almost three years, Ms Maryam Sanda was convicted in January 2020 for allegedly stabbing her husband to death after an argument between them degenerated into fisticuffs in November, 2017.
The deceased husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was the son of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.
Although she claimed that her husband died from a wound he sustained on the chest from falling on a broken Shisha pot, a single or multi-stemmed device used to either smoke or vapourise flavoured tobacco, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court found her guilty of killing Bilyaminu and sentenced her to death by hanging.
The judge had said although the prosecution did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt as there was no other witness of the incident aside the accused and no autopsy or murder weapon tendered, the surrounding circumstances were compelling.
He said he also relied on the “Doctrine of the Last Scene” which stipulates that the last person at a crime scene bears full responsibility.
“Ms Sanda stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife with clear intent to kill,” said the judge in a two-count homicide charge brought by the Nigeria Police against her.
“It serves to buttress the finding that the defendant was the last to be seen with the deceased and therefore has full responsibility of what caused his death,” Halilu added.
Ms Sanda had burst into tears after the judgment, forcing her way out of the dock and screaming “Who will take care of my daughter?”
