Persuade Nigel I've reformed (8)
I believe the answer is:
inveigle
'persuade' is the definition.
(to inveigle is to coax or persuade)
'nigel i've reformed' is the wordplay.
'reformed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'nigel'+'ive'='nigelive'
'nigelive' with letters rearranged gives 'INVEIGLE'.
(Other definitions for inveigle that I've seen before include "Persuade by cajolery" , "use enticements" , "Lead on, entice" , "Persuade by trickery - given lie (anag)" , "Wheedle" .)