Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent use of the presidential pardon, describing it as reckless and damaging to Nigeria’s justice system.
In a statement shared on his official X handle on Sunday, Atiku said that the prerogative of mercy is meant to balance justice with compassion, not to trivialise the sanctity of the law. He expressed disappointment that the latest wave of pardons had, in his view, reduced the process to a political gesture rather than a moral exercise.
President Tinubu, on Thursday, granted clemency to 175 convicts and former convicts, including the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni Eight.
According to a statement by the Presidency, the decision followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The list also included individuals convicted of serious offences such as homicide, illegal mining, and financial crimes.
Reacting to this development, Atiku condemned the inclusion of such offenders, arguing that it undermines public confidence in the judicial system and “emboldens criminality.” He stressed that clemency should never serve as a tool that weakens justice or compromises national integrity.
“Ordinarily, the power of presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative, a moral and constitutional instrument designed to temper justice with mercy and to underscore the humanity of the state. When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite,” Atiku said.
He accused the government of setting a dangerous precedent by extending mercy to individuals convicted of crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption. According to him, this decision sends the wrong message to both citizens and the international community about Nigeria’s moral compass.
“At a time when Nigeria continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences, it is both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritise clemency for those whose actions have directly undermined national stability and social order,” he added.
Atiku also expressed deep concern about the number of drug offenders among the pardoned convicts. Citing figures from reports, he noted that “29.2 percent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes,” which he described as alarming given the country’s ongoing battle against narcotics and youth addiction.
He further alluded to President Tinubu’s controversial past, referencing unresolved questions regarding alleged links to a U.S. drug-related forfeiture case, which, he said, made the latest decision even more troubling.
“It is, therefore, no surprise that this administration continues to demonstrate a worrying tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise,” Atiku added.
The former Vice President concluded by saying that presidential clemency should represent moral reform and redemption, not political convenience. “A presidential pardon is meant to symbolize restitution and moral reform. Instead, what we have witnessed is a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, a demoralization of law enforcement, and a grave injury to the conscience of the nation,” he stated.
He ended with a strong warning, saying, “Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness. Nigeria deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivializes it.”
What You Should Know
Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of President Tinubu’s mass pardon follows growing public concern over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes.
His remarks reflect fears that the government’s approach to clemency may erode public trust in Nigeria’s justice system and weaken the nation’s moral and legal standards.
