President Tinubu,Â
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has announced a significant increase in applications for presidential pardons and clemency submitted to his office.
This was disclosed during the inauguration of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) in Abuja, a body tasked with reviewing clemency applications and making recommendations for presidential pardons.
The committee, which is led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate overcrowding in prisons and promote rehabilitation.
Fagbemi, who chairs the 15-member committee, emphasized that their role is not to review court judgments but to assist President Bola Tinubu in exercising his constitutional prerogative of mercy, as outlined in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The PACPM, which will serve a four-year term, includes representatives from various important bodies, such as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), along with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Other notable members of the committee include Justice Augustine Utsaha, Prof. Alkasum Abba, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), and Prof. Nike Sidikat Ijaiya.
