The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Nigeria is asking President Bola Tinubu to consider granting a presidential pardon to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. Their reason? Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In a statement released Friday, the IHRC’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, Duru Hezekiah, said the country can’t afford to discard trained officers with proven expertise, especially at a time when insecurity is spreading like wildfire.
The commission isn’t asking the president to interfere with the courts. According to Hezekiah, this is not about sweeping Kyari’s alleged crimes under the carpet. Instead, the group wants a “strategic, conditional pardon”—something that would allow Kyari to contribute to national security again, under strict legal and public oversight.
They referenced Section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution, which gives the President the power to issue pardons in certain cases.
To drive their point home, the IHRC mentioned how other countries have used similar strategies. For example, in the U.S., law enforcement sometimes offers plea bargains in exchange for valuable intelligence. In some African nations, even ex-warlords have been granted limited amnesty just to stabilize volatile regions. In cybersecurity, former hackers have been turned into national assets.
“We’re not saying forget justice,” the IHRC stressed. “But think about what Nigeria needs right now—people who understand crime, who know how to fight it, and can help build a stronger security system.”
The commission said Kyari, if cleared for reintegration, could be just that kind of asset.
They’re now calling for a broader conversation—bringing in civil society groups, legal minds, and national security experts to weigh in. The goal, they say, is to find a middle ground between punishment and national survival.
“This is not political favouritism,” they concluded. “It’s strategic thinking. When properly managed, conditional clemency can help Nigeria move forward while still holding people accountable.”
Kyari, once hailed as Nigeria’s top anti-crime officer, is currently facing trial over alleged involvement in a drug trafficking case involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
