Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s recent wave of presidential pardons, calling the move “reckless” and a grave threat to Nigeria’s justice system.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Sunday, Atiku argued that the presidential prerogative of mercy should serve as a moral and constitutional tool to temper justice with compassion not to absolve individuals convicted of serious crimes.
President Tinubu granted clemency to 175 individuals last Thursday, including high-profile names such as the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni Eight. The list also included individuals convicted of homicide, illegal mining, fraud, and drug trafficking.
The Presidency stated that the pardons were based on recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Atiku, however, condemned the inclusion of offenders convicted of grave crimes, warning that such decisions erode public trust in the justice system and “embolden criminality.”
He emphasized that clemency should never be used to shield criminal behavior or undermine law enforcement efforts. “When properly exercised, presidential pardon elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance,” Atiku said. “Regrettably, the latest round of pardons has done the very opposite.”
The former Vice President expressed particular concern over the fact that 29.2% of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related offences, a troubling statistic given Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with narcotics and youth addiction.
He also referenced unresolved controversies surrounding President Tinubu’s past, including allegations of financial forfeiture linked to drug investigations in the United States, suggesting that the current administration’s tolerance for criminality is deeply concerning.
“A presidential pardon should symbolize moral reform and restitution,” Atiku stated. “Instead, this act has mocked the justice system, insulted victims, and demoralized law enforcement.”
He concluded with a stark warning: “Clemency must never be confused with complicity. Nigeria deserves leadership that upholds justice—not one that trivializes it.”
