Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
President Bola Tinubu, while carrying out his order of “Prerogative of Mercy” has officially pardoned 175 individuals who were convicted for various deadly crimes.
This has resulted to heated debates from the public, and most people have since seen such an act as worrisome due to the serious criminal background such individuals have and the possibility of seeking retribution.
Below are seven of the individuals who are beneficiaries of the president’s pardon.
1. Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa
Michael Bawa, 72, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005 for murder while serving in the military. After spending over 20 years in prison in Kaduna State, his reported good conduct resulted in a plea for clemency.
2. Nweke Francis Chibueze
Nweke Francis Chibueze, who is supposed to be serving a life sentence for attempting to smuggle cocaine in 2013, was granted a presidential pardon by Tinubu.
3. Maryam Sanda
Maryam Sanda, 37, and known for the culpable homicide of her spouse, was sentenced to death in 2020.
She stabbed him multiple times with a kitchen knife during a dispute, inflicting fatal wounds to the neck and the chest area.
Sanda had served six years at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before receiving clemency.
4. Abiodun Elemero
43-year-old Abiodun Elemero was jailed for life in 2014 for trafficking cocaine on the street. He had spent over 10 years at the Kirikiri prison before President Tinubu’s pardon.
5. Lina Kusum Wilson
Aged 34, Lina Kusum Wilson spent eight years in prison after being sentenced to death in 2017 for unlawful killing in a fatal altercation.
Her pardon from the president has sparked varied reactions from members of the public.
6. Johnny Ntheru
Johnny Ntheru, who is currently 63 years of age, was serving a life sentence after being convicted for armed robbery in 1989. He also earned a pardon from the president.
7. Ife Yusuf
37-year-old Yusuf served six years at Kirikiri prison after being caught in 2019 engaging in human trafficking.
He was said to have been granted clemency due to good behaviour and vocational training while serving in jail.