Post by Omotosho Kehinde Seun (@KennyOsho)

BREAKING: National Industrial Court Orders Reinstatement of 70 Pardoned Nigerian Soldiers

Today, 20th July 2026, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Judicial Division, delivered judgment in the case filed by 70 Nigerian soldiers against the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff.

The case arose after the soldiers were tried by court-martial in 2014, convicted of conspiracy and mutiny, and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later reduced to 10 years' imprisonment. After serving their prison terms, they were granted an unconditional Presidential Pardon by former President Muhammadu Buhari on 18th July 2022 under Section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Following the pardon, the soldiers, through their lawyers, requested to be reinstated into the Nigerian Army and to be paid their outstanding salaries and allowances. When no positive response came from the military authorities, they approached the National Industrial Court for justice.

During the hearing, the claimants argued that a Presidential Pardon completely removes the legal consequences of a conviction and restores every right lost because of that conviction. They relied on Section 175 of the Constitution and several Nigerian, English, and foreign judicial authorities to support their argument that a person granted an unconditional pardon should no longer suffer any legal disability arising from the offence.

On the other hand, the Attorney General of the Federation argued that although a Presidential Pardon forgives the offence and restores civil rights, it does not automatically revive an employment relationship or create a right to receive salary arrears for the years when the beneficiaries were no longer in service.

After carefully reviewing the evidence, including the Official Gazette containing the Instrument of Grant of Pardon signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the court confirmed that all 70 claimants were beneficiaries of the Presidential Pardon.

The court held that the Presidential Pardon removed the legal consequences of their conviction and declared that the claimants were entitled to be reinstated into the Nigerian Army.

The court therefore ordered the Chief of Army Staff to reinstate the 70 soldiers, with the reinstatement taking effect from 18th July 2022, the date the Presidential Pardon became effective.

The court also ordered that all salaries, allowances, and other entitlements due from 18th July 2022 until the date of actual reinstatement should be paid to the claimants.

However, the court refused the request for salaries and allowances from 17th December 2014 to 17th July 2022, holding that the Presidential Pardon did not create an entitlement to salary for the period before the pardon took effect.

This judgment is expected to become an important legal authority on the effect of the President's constitutional power to grant a pardon under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution.

What do you think about this judgment? Do you agree with the court's decision? Let's discuss respectfully in the comments.

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