President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (information & Strategy), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said that following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were deleted from the list.

Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.

This action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies and adherence to bilateral obligations.

The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.

The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.

Furthermore, to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

President Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.

This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.

The President appreciated the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on this matter.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.

One hundred and seventy (170) foreign nationals are seeking Nigerian citizenship.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Interior Minister, disclosed this in Abuja after chairing a meeting of the Citizenship Advisory Committee, which vets all citizenship requests before forwarding recommendations to President Bola Tinubu for approval.

Tunji-Ojo noted that citizenship of the world’s largest Black nation is not for everyone.

“Anyone who holds the citizenship of our great country must be a person of strong character and impeccable integrity, reflecting the true values of Nigeria,” he declared.

According to the Minister, the 170 applications will undergo rigorous scrutiny by a high-level panel comprising representatives from the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Nigeria Police Force has announced plans to celebrate 70 years of women in policing, honouring seven decades of courage, resilience, and service since the first set of female officers were enlisted in 1955.

In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Wednesday, the celebration is scheduled to hold from December 3 to 4, 2025, and will bring together serving and retired female officers alongside the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The statement noted that the milestone “underscores the vital role of women in strengthening law enforcement and fostering community trust across the nation.

It added that the IGP commended the invaluable contributions of female officers to the operational effectiveness and public image of the Force, saying their “dedication and compassion have continued to be integral to the foundation of policing in Nigeria.”