President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing fierce criticism after granting presidential pardons to 175 convicted individuals, including several drug traffickers and high-profile inmates.
The pardons, announced by the Presidency on Saturday, have drawn outrage from opposition parties, rights advocates, and political leaders — who described it as a blow to Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign and a betrayal of justice.
Among those pardoned were posthumous figures such as nationalist Herbert Macaulay and Major General Mamman Vatsa, alongside Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for murdering her husband.
More than 30 of the beneficiaries were convicted of drug-related offences.
Outrage Over Presidential Clemency
In a statement on Sunday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) slammed the decision as “pathetic and a national disgrace.”
Its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the action trivialises the war against drugs and erodes Nigeria’s global credibility.
“It amounts to an irresponsible abuse of presidential powers to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking and related crimes—especially when many of them have barely served two years of life sentences,” the ADC said.
The party argued that clemency should serve justice, not sympathy, insisting that “NDLEA officers have risked their lives to fight drug trafficking. Granting clemency to those convicted under these laws mocks their sacrifice.”
Atiku and Melaye Condemn Tinubu’s Action
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the move, saying it “rightly sparked nationwide outrage.”
According to him, “Extending clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption diminishes the sanctity of justice.”
Atiku said the decision sends a “dangerous message” at a time when Nigeria is battling moral decay, insecurity, and rising drug abuse. He called for a complete review of the nation’s clemency process to prevent future misuse.
Former senator Dino Melaye described the pardon as “unprecedented in history,” alleging that around 70 of the pardoned individuals were convicted drug offenders.
“My advice to the President is to scrap the NDLEA, as his decision has rendered the agency’s work meaningless,” he wrote on X.
Calls for Reversal and Moral Accountability
Josef Onoh, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication for the South-East, also urged Tinubu to withdraw the pardons granted to Sanda and several drug convicts.
He described the move as “a rape of justice,” saying it undermines both moral integrity and national credibility. “This act, while lawful, contradicts the moral imperatives of retributive justice and restorative equity,” Onoh said.
He warned that the decision could harm Nigeria’s standing with international bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and demoralise security operatives who risk their lives to enforce the law.
“Reversing this decision would not merely correct an error—it is a moral necessity to restore justice, heal the nation’s conscience, and protect Nigeria’s global reputation,” Onoh added.
As pressure mounts from political and civil groups, the presidency is yet to issue a follow-up statement addressing the backlash.
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