The Nigerian Federal Government has inaugurated a 12-member Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM),
raising speculation about potential beneficiaries, including former Delta State Governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
Chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the committee is tasked with reviewing clemency applications and advising the President on granting pardons.
The committee is responsible for identifying and recommending individuals eligible for presidential pardons.
This development has sparked speculation about potential beneficiaries, including former Delta State Governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
Chief Ibori served as Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007. In 2012, he pleaded guilty in a UK court to money laundering charges and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
He was released in December 2016 after serving part of his sentence.
With his criminal record still intact in Nigeria, Ibori may seek a presidential pardon as a means of clearing his name.
The PACPM is tasked with reviewing clemency applications and providing recommendations to the President based on their merit.
While the committee’s inauguration raises hopes for individuals like Ibori, each case will be thoroughly evaluated, and outcomes remain uncertain.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Ibori have shared a close friendship dating back to their time as governors from 1999 to 2007, with Tinubu presiding over Lagos State and Ibori leading Delta State.
Over the years, their relationship has remained steadfast. In June 2023, President Tinubu hosted Ibori at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, alongside Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
In August 2024, President Tinubu further highlighted their connection by extending birthday wishes to Ibori, praising his contributions as a politician and businessman.
These instances reflect the enduring camaraderie between Tinubu and Ibori, which has transcended political divides and the passage of time.
This could explain the widespread speculation that Ibori might become a beneficiary of the PACPM, given the applications already submitted.
The committee comprises representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Other notable members include Justice Augustine Utsaha, Prof. Alkasum Abba, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), and Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Ijaiya.
During the inauguration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, highlighted the constitutional basis for the committee’s role.
He stated, “Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) confers special powers of prerogative of mercy on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
This provision empowers the President to grant pardons to individuals convicted of offences under an Act of the National Assembly.
“In consequence of this constitutional power, a Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy is to be constituted as an administrative body with the mandate to provide and facilitate a seamless and smooth exercise of the power by the President.
“The committee has a four-year tenure, and its membership is drawn from relevant line ministries, departments and agencies as well as representatives of religious bodies, and four eminent Nigerians.”
Speaking on behalf of the committee members, the AGF said his office had received an overwhelming number of requests for a presidential pardon.
He said, “Already, my office has been inundated with applications for presidential pardon and clemency. We are to look into these applications and advise on their merits as appropriate. We assure Nigerians that we will carry out our assignment objectively in the public interest and the interest of justice.”
Fagbemi noted that the committee’s assignments were not to undermine the decision of the courts but to carry out the duty the constitution mandates the President.
He said, “We must also state that our assignment is in no way a review of the decisions of the courts but a discharge of a mandate imposed on Mr. President by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“After our assignment, the committee would be required to present its report and actionable recommendations for onward transmission to Mr. President for consideration and further directives.”
Fagbemi said in carrying out their assignment, the committee members might need to visit correctional facilities across the six geopolitical zones before making their recommendations.
The PUNCH reports that the last presidential pardon was granted under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, with a total of 159 convicts receiving clemency.
Among those pardoned were Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, a development that generated a lot of controversy.
Dariye, who served as Plateau State governor from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for embezzling N1.16bn.
Similarly, Nyame, the governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007, received a 12-year sentence for misappropriating N1.6bn.
With additional report from Punch except headline
