Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent exercise of the prerogative of mercy, saying the mass clemency has weakened public confidence in the criminal-justice system and “emboldens criminality.”
In a statement posted on his X handle, Atiku said the presidential power to grant mercy is intended to temper justice with compassion, not to “trivialise criminality.”
He said the latest round of pardons, which covered 175 convicts and former convicts, has reduced the instrument to “a mere triviality.”
President Tinubu on Thursday granted clemency to a wide range of beneficiaries. A statement by the Presidency said this was done in line with recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The exercise included posthumous pardons and covered persons convicted of offences ranging from homicide and fraud to illegal mining.
Presidential Pardon Sends Dangerous Signal
Atiku also criticised the inclusion of persons convicted of serious crimes, arguing that the decision undermines the rule of law and sends a dangerous signal both domestically and internationally.
“When properly exercised, the power of pardon elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite,” he said.
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The former vice-president drew particular attention to what he described as the scale of drug-related beneficiaries, saying about 29.2 per cent of those pardoned had convictions connected to narcotics.
He said that, coming at a time when Nigeria is battling insecurity and rising drug offences, the decision was “both shocking and indefensible.”
Pardon, a Mockery Of the Criminal Justice System
Atiku also pointed to what he described as an “ironic” backdrop to the exercise, alleging unresolved questions about the President’s past involving forfeiture of funds to U.S. authorities in relation to drug-related investigations.
He argued that clemency should signify restoration and moral reform, not “a mockery of the criminal justice system” or an affront to victims and law-enforcement agencies.
“Clemency must never be confused with complicity,” Atiku said, adding that when a government absolves offenders of crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and encourages lawlessness. He urged that safeguards be put in place so that the prerogative of mercy does not undermine accountability.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
