The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Lagos, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 70 soldiers of the Nigerian Army who were convicted by courts-martial in 2014 but later granted presidential pardon by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The court also directed the Nigerian Army to pay the soldiers all salaries, allowances and other emoluments accruing from July 18, 2022, up to the date of their actual physical reinstatement.
According to a press release issued by Tayo Soyemi of Falana & Falana Chambers, in a landmark judgment delivered on July 20, 2026, Justice S.A. Yelwa held that the unconditional presidential pardon granted to the soldiers under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution completely erased their convictions, sentences and dismissals from the Nigerian Army, thereby restoring their legal status and entitling them to reinstatement.
The suit, marked NICN/LA/54/2023, was instituted by the 70 soldiers against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff after the military authorities allegedly failed to act on their request for reinstatement despite the presidential pardon.
The claimants, through their legal attorneys, Falana & Falana Chambers, sought declarations that the presidential pardon wiped out their convictions and dismissals, an order compelling their reinstatement into the Nigerian Army, and payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances dating back to December 17, 2014.
