Amnesty International has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the recent presidential pardons granted to individuals convicted of various crimes, warning that the move undermines justice and entrenches impunity in Nigeria.
The global rights watchdog, in a statement issued Monday, expressed concern that the exercise “prioritised offenders over their victims,” thereby obstructing truth, accountability, and reparations for those affected by the convicts’ actions.
“The way and manner Nigerian authorities carried out the exercise seemed to prioritise the perpetrators instead of access to justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families,” the organisation said.
Last Thursday, President Tinubu granted clemency to several persons, including Nigeria’s founding nationalist Herbert Macaulay, former FCT Minister Major General Mamman Vatsa (retd), and others reportedly convicted of offences ranging from drug trafficking to illegal mining.
The decision has sparked nationwide debate, with critics questioning the inclusion of individuals accused or convicted of serious offences.
Amnesty International cautioned that such actions could weaken the rule of law and prevent justice for victims of human rights abuses.
“President Bola Tinubu should reconsider his government’s pardons for those convicted of human rights crimes and uphold and ensure the rights of the victims and their families,” the group stated.
The organisation urged the government to ensure future clemency decisions are guided by transparency, justice, and respect for victims’ rights, rather than political or symbolic considerations.