Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant clemency and pardons to 147 individuals, including those convicted of human rights abuses, drug trafficking, and illegal mining. The group described the move as “dangerously insensitive” and warned that it could undermine justice for victims and entrench impunity.
In a statement released on Monday, Amnesty International said the government’s decision “prioritised perpetrators over victims,” questioning the moral and legal basis for granting freedom or posthumous pardons to individuals convicted of serious crimes. The organisation expressed particular concern that the clemency extended to those involved in human rights violations “prevents reparations and denies victims the justice they deserve.”
President Tinubu’s action, announced on Saturday, covered a range of individuals — from historic figures such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, Major-General Mamman Vatsa, and Sir Herbert Macaulay, to contemporary convicts including Maryam Sanda, Professor Magaji Garba, and several drug traffickers and illegal miners. The Presidency framed the decision as an act of “compassion, justice, and national healing,” following recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
However, Amnesty International argued that the process lacked transparency and failed to demonstrate accountability. “The government’s actions risk undermining the rule of law and denying victims’ families closure,” the statement read. The group urged President Tinubu to reverse the pardons, insisting that justice and human rights must remain central to Nigeria’s reconciliation efforts.
According to a statement from the State House, the final list of beneficiaries was trimmed from 175 to 147 names. They included both deceased national figures and living convicts whose sentences were either reduced or commuted. Among those pardoned posthumously were members of the Ogoniland Nine, who were executed in 1995 under the regime of General Sani Abacha.
Other beneficiaries ranged from white-collar offenders to over 60 young illegal miners who had been convicted in 2024. Amnesty International warned that such mass clemency, especially for crimes involving human rights violations, could send a dangerous message of leniency to future offenders.
“The Tinubu administration must put victims first,” the group concluded, “and demonstrate that Nigeria remains committed to justice, accountability, and the rule of law.”
