Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to individuals convicted of serious crimes, describing it as reckless and morally unjustifiable.
In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku said while the presidential pardon is constitutionally designed to temper justice with mercy, Tinubu has instead used it to absolve individuals guilty of grave offences such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption. According to him, such an act undermines justice and weakens public trust in governance.
The comment follows the release of 175 names of pardon beneficiaries, announced by the presidency through Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Atiku described the decision as “a dangerous signal to the nation and the international community,” adding that it trivializes the sanctity of Nigeria’s justice system.
He expressed concern that 29.2% of those pardoned were convicted of drug-related crimes, calling the move “deeply troubling” given the country’s ongoing struggle against narcotics abuse and trafficking. He also referenced President Tinubu’s controversial past, noting that it “remains clouded by unresolved issues relating to forfeitures linked to drug investigations in the United States.”
Atiku further warned that granting clemency to individuals convicted of crimes that threaten public safety is equivalent to encouraging lawlessness. “A presidential pardon should symbolize restitution and reform, not complicity in wrongdoing,” he said.
He concluded by stating that Nigeria needs leaders who uphold the principles of justice and accountability. “Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government absolves offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it loses moral credibility and strengthens criminal impunity,” Atiku emphasized.
