Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has granted an absolute pardon to 130 inmates across custodial facilities in the state and commuted the death sentences of four other inmates to life imprisonment.
Mutfwang announced the exercise of his prerogative of mercy on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.
The governor said the decision followed consultations with the Plateau State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The announcement was contained in his Independence Day goodwill message to the people of Plateau State and Nigerians at home and abroad. According to the statement, the governor exercised the powers conferred on him by the Constitution to approve the pardons and sentence commutations.
130 Inmates Granted Absolute Pardon
Under the exercise announced by the governor, 130 inmates serving sentences in custodial facilities across Plateau State were granted absolute pardon.
Mutfwang did not provide, in the reported statement, a detailed breakdown of the offences or custodial facilities involving the 130 inmates.
He also did not disclose individual names or the circumstances of each case in the statement announcing the exercise.
The decision therefore represents a broad exercise of the governor’s constitutional prerogative of mercy following consideration by the state’s Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The governor separately commuted the death sentences of four inmates to life imprisonment.
This means the four inmates will no longer face execution under the sentences covered by the governor’s decision, but will instead serve life imprisonment.
Death Sentences Commuted to Life Imprisonment
The commutation of four death sentences was announced alongside the pardons.
Mutfwang said the decision was taken after consultation with the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
A commutation changes the punishment imposed on a convicted person without necessarily overturning the underlying conviction. In this case, the reported decision changes the four inmates’ sentences from death to life imprisonment.
The distinction is important because an absolute pardon and a sentence commutation are not the same form of executive mercy.
The 130 inmates were granted absolute pardon, while the four inmates sentenced to death had their punishment reduced to life imprisonment.
Independence Day Announcement
Mutfwang made the announcement as part of his message marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The governor used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s journey since independence and called on citizens to remain committed to national unity, peace and development.
He said the anniversary provided an opportunity to acknowledge the country’s challenges, celebrate its achievements and renew confidence in the possibility of building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
The pardon exercise was therefore announced within a wider Independence Day message focused on national unity, citizenship and the responsibilities of Nigerians.
Mutfwang Calls for Peace and National Unity
The Plateau governor urged Nigerians to preserve the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said nation-building was a responsibility shared across generations and that citizens had a role to play in creating a peaceful and stable country.
Mutfwang also urged Nigerians to rise above their differences and work towards a society in which citizens have a sense of belonging and opportunities to pursue their aspirations.
The governor’s comments come as Plateau continues to deal with security challenges in several parts of the state.
In September, the state government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu local government areas following renewed killings and security concerns. The restriction was announced as a measure intended to restore public order and protect residents.
Plateau Faces Continuing Security Challenges
The pardon announcement comes against a backdrop of continuing security concerns in Plateau State.
The state has experienced recurring attacks and communal violence in several communities, prompting government and security agencies to introduce measures aimed at protecting residents.
In September, the Plateau Government also announced humanitarian assistance worth N1.5 billion for 1,579 victims of violent attacks in five local government areas.
The assistance covered victims from Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Bassa, according to The PUNCH.
The government has also continued to hold security meetings and engage security agencies over threats to communities.
These developments provide broader context to the governor’s Independence Day emphasis on peace, security and stability.
However, the pardon exercise itself was presented as a constitutional exercise of the governor’s prerogative of mercy rather than as a security intervention.
Constitutional Prerogative of Mercy
The governor’s action falls within the constitutional framework governing the prerogative of mercy exercised by state governors.
Nigeria’s Constitution provides for powers of pardon, respite, remission and commutation of sentences under specified circumstances.
At the state level, governors exercise these powers in relation to offences against laws of their respective states, subject to the constitutional framework and the relevant advisory process.
Mutfwang specifically said he acted after consulting the Plateau State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The advisory process is significant because the decision is not presented simply as an individual announcement by the governor. The governor’s statement expressly linked the exercise to consultation with the state advisory council.
What the Pardon Means for the Affected Inmates
For the 130 inmates granted absolute pardon, the governor’s announcement changes their legal position under the exercise of executive mercy.
However, the available statement does not provide details about whether all 130 inmates were serving custodial sentences for the same category of offences, how long they had been imprisoned or whether additional conditions were attached to individual pardons.
Those details were not included in the report announcing the exercise and should therefore not be inferred.
Similarly, the four inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment were not individually identified in the reported statement.
The available information establishes the number affected and the nature of the sentence change, but not the individual circumstances of each case.
Governor Reaffirms Commitment to Plateau
Beyond the pardon exercise, Mutfwang used the Independence Day message to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to building a Plateau State where residents can pursue their aspirations in an environment of peace, security, justice and inclusive development.
He commended residents for what he described as their resilience, patience and contributions to the development of the state.
The governor also urged citizens to maintain confidence in Nigeria despite the country’s challenges.
His message included an acknowledgement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts concerning national cohesion, peace and economic development.
Why the Development Matters
The decision affects 134 inmates in total through two different forms of executive mercy: 130 received absolute pardon, while four death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
For the affected inmates and their families, the decisions could have immediate consequences for their legal and custodial circumstances.
At the institutional level, the exercise also demonstrates the role of the constitutional prerogative of mercy within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
However, the announcement does not provide sufficient information to assess the individual cases or the reasons each inmate was selected.
That distinction is important for accurate reporting because the governor’s statement confirms the exercise but does not publish a case-by-case explanation for all 134 decisions.
What Happens Next
The next stage will involve the implementation of the governor’s decision by the relevant custodial and justice authorities in Plateau State.
The precise arrangements for the release of the 130 pardoned inmates and the implementation of the four sentence commutations were not detailed in the statement reported on Thursday.
The affected inmates’ individual records and the formal documentation of the governor’s exercise would provide further information about the implementation process if made public.
For now, the confirmed development is that Governor Mutfwang has exercised his prerogative of mercy to pardon 130 inmates and reduce four death sentences to life imprisonment following consultation with the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The announcement forms part of the governor’s wider Independence Day message, which called for peace, unity, responsible citizenship and continued efforts to build a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Vanguard
- Plateau State Government
- The PUNCH
