Court Orders Reinstatement of 70 Pardoned Soldiers

On July 20, 2026, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, presided over by Justice S.A. Yelwa, ordered the immediate reinstatement of 70 soldiers from the Nigerian Army who were convicted by courts-martial in 2014 and later granted a presidential pardon by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The court mandated the Nigerian Army to pay the soldiers all salaries, allowances, and emoluments from July 18, 2022, until their actual reinstatement. The soldiers had been convicted for offences related to conspiracy and mutiny, initially sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted to ten years' imprisonment.

Following their release, they received an unconditional presidential pardon published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette on July 29, 2022. After the Army failed to act on their reinstatement request, the soldiers, represented by Falana & Falana Chambers, filed a suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff.

The court ruled that the presidential pardon erased their convictions and dismissals, restoring their legal status.