The Acting Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Sylvester Nwakuche, has directed all State Controllers of Corrections and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commands to compile and submit lists of qualified prisoners and inmates for consideration of presidential pardon.
This directive, issued on January 17, 2025, was communicated in a memo obtained by SaharaReporters. The document, titled “Re: Request for List of Prisoners/Inmates Eligible for Presidential Pardon/Clemency Nation-Wide,” outlined specific criteria for determining eligibility.
“I am directed to write and request you to, as a matter of urgency, furnish the office of the Controller-General of Corrections with a list of ALL qualified prisoners/inmates in your Command for Presidential Pardon/Clemency,” the memo stated.
The directive emphasized that only inmates convicted or awaiting trial for federal offenses are eligible. Additionally, several criteria will guide the process, including advanced age, health conditions, and the duration of incarceration.
The memo elaborated, “Note that in determining eligibility, regard shall be had to the following criteria:
- Old age – (60 years and above).
- Ill-health, likely to terminate in death.
- Young persons, 16 years and below.
- Long-term convicts who have served 10 years and above with good records.
- Long awaiting trial persons in custody for 10 years and above.
- Convicts serving three years and above with less than six months remaining.
- Awaiting trial persons (ATPs) who have been in custody for three years and above for minor offenses.
- ATPs who must have stayed longer than the sentence that would have been imposed.”
This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to reform the justice system and decongest correctional facilities across the country.
Nwakuche assumed his role as Acting Controller General of Corrections on December 16, 2024, following the retirement of Haliru Nababa. President Tinubu appointed Nwakuche to spearhead the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) during this critical period.
The directive signals a significant step toward addressing overcrowding in prisons and ensuring that individuals deserving of clemency are given an opportunity for reintegration into society. It also reflects a commitment to upholding humanitarian principles within the justice system.
As the process unfolds, state and FCT controllers are expected to prioritize transparency and fairness in compiling the lists to ensure that the criteria outlined are strictly adhered to.
